Alopecia Areata - Symptoms and Treatment of Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is a autoimmune disorder where immune system form antibodies to attack the hair follicles. It causes loss of hair in the form of sharply defined circular patches on the various body parts such as scalp, beard, eyelashes, eyebrows, face, nose hair, etc. Alopecia Areata is also known as patchy baldness or baldness in spots.

Causes of Alopecia Areata

• the exact cause is unknown but there is evidence of some genetic and heredity factors.
• the body's own immune system attacks the hair follicles which drastically slow down hair production
• Alopecia Areata can also trigger by stress
• environmental factors may sometimes trigger this not contagious disease
• lymphocytes of hair follicles release cytokines which inhibiting hair follicle growth

What are the symptoms of Alopecia Areata ?

• The effects of alopecia areata are loss of eyelashes and eyebrows.
• May have a risk of eczema, asthma, and nasal allergies
• The patient in this disease may lose scalp hair or whole body hair.
• In many patient there is a tingling sensation, burning or very low pain in the affected area.
• Person may feel emotionally very distressing.

Alopecia Areata Treatment

• Medications like Corticosteroids , Anthralin, Minoxidil, dithranol, Sulfasalazine, Cyclosporine.
• Steroids injection like Kenalog(r), Celestone, Diprolene or Temovate
• Creams and lotions such as Betamethasone dipropionate, Fluocinolone acetonide cream, Rogaine, Thymusil, Cortisone, clobetasol
• Wig or hairpieces are often the best solution
• Artificial eyebrows are created through the Dermatography
• Aromatherapy oils such as cedarwood, lavender, thyme, and rosemary oils are proved to be useful in some patients
• Vitamins, supplements, Chinese herbs, zinc are also effective in the treatment of alopecia areata
• Photochemotherapy in this treatment person given a light drugs called a psoralen which is taken by mouth or rubbed on the affected part and then that area is expose to ultraviolet light source. This whole treatment called is PUVA.