Alopecia Areata
Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. One type is alopecia areata. It is an autoimmune disease, a condition in which the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body itself. This disease attacks hair follicles.
Hair follicles are the structures where hair grows. This disease causes hair follicles on the head, face, or body to become smaller and stop producing hair, initially causing hair loss and eventually baldness if left untreated.
Symptoms of Alopecia Areata
Symptoms caused by alopecia areata include:
- Baldness in a circular pattern in one or more areas where hair used to grow, which is temporary but can also be permanent.
- Baldness that can spread to the entire scalp (alopecia totalis) and even the entire body (alopecia universalis).
- Disorders of the fingernails and toenails, in the form of nails that change shape, have white lines with a thin and rough surface or are split.
- Baldness that can be accompanied by a burning or itching sensation on the scalp.
Risk Factors for Alopecia Areata
Various risk factors for alopecia areata include:
- History of the same disease in family members.
- Increasing age.
- Other autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus erythematosus.
- Having abnormal nail color, shape, texture, or thickness.
- Psychological problems, such as stress, depression, anxiety, or paranoid disorders.
Causes of Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system mistakenly attacks other parts of the body, in this case hair follicles. When this happens, hair growth shrinks and slows, and hair begins to fall out, often in clumps. The more hair follicles the immune system attacks, the more hair will fall out.
The extent of hair loss varies. In some cases, it occurs in only a few places. However, hair loss can be more extensive. In some rare cases, a person can lose all the hair on their head (alopecia areata totalis) or their entire body (alopecia areata universalis).
It is still not known for certain why the immune system attacks hair follicles. It is believed that a person’s genetic makeup can be a trigger for autoimmune reactions to alopecia areata. In addition to genetics, alopecia areata can also be triggered by other autoimmune disorders.
In a study found that people with a family history of alopecia areata, also have a personal history or other family members who suffer from other autoimmune disorders such as atopy. Atopy is a disorder characterized by a tendency towards hypoallergic, thyroiditis, and vitiligo.
Types of Alopecia Areata
There are several types of alopecia areata. Each type is characterized by the level of hair loss and other symptoms that may be experienced. Here are the types of alopecia areata:
- Patchy alopecia areata, the main characteristic of this type is that there are areas or patches of hair loss that only occur in certain areas of the body.
- Alopecia totalis occurs when hair loss affects the entire scalp.
- Alopecia universalis is hair loss that occurs not only in the head area but also other areas of the body. For example, the face, eyebrows, even eyelashes.
- Diffuse alopecia areata, this condition occurs when hair thins suddenly all over the scalp.
- Ophiasis alopecia is hair loss that occurs along the sides and in the lower scalp area.
Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata
There are several ways to diagnose alopecia areata. These include a physical examination, a medical interview, and if necessary, taking a skin biopsy sample and blood tests.
Physical examination
The doctor will examine the area of hair loss and the level of hair loss. In the area of hair loss, the hair will be pulled out slowly and it will be observed whether the hair comes off easily. Next, the doctor will examine the hair and follicles to see what their shape is, whether it is normal or not. Then the doctor will examine the nails.
Medical interview
Such as asking about current illnesses or family medical history.
Performing a scalp biopsy sample
The goal is to find out other causes of hair loss, such as a fungal infection called tinea capitis. During the biopsy, a small portion of the scalp is removed and then analyzed in a laboratory using a microscope.
Blood test
This supporting examination is performed if the patient is suspected of having an autoimmune disease. Blood tests are intended to check for abnormal antibodies, C-reactive protein levels, iron, thyroid hormones, testosterone hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Complications of Alopecia Areata
Some complications of alopecia areata include:
- Baldness becomes permanent.
- Have a greater risk of developing or having a family history of asthma, allergies, and other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease and vitiligo.
- Psychological disorders in the form of emotional disorders due to lost self-confidence, which can develop into depression.
Alopecia Areata Treatment
Until now, a suitable treatment to cure alopecia areata has not been found. The treatment given aims to stimulate hair growth to grow back faster.
The most common forms of alopecia areata treatment are corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress the immune system. Most of these treatments are given through local injections, ointments, or oral medications.
Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that affect the body’s immune system. They can be injected through the scalp or other areas. Corticosteroids can also be given as pills or applied to the skin as ointments, creams, or foams.
Topical immunotherapy is a type of therapy used to treat baldness and stimulate hair growth. The treatment method is to apply chemicals to the scalp to produce an allergic reaction. If successful, this reaction can cause hair to grow back.
Other medications prescribed to promote hair growth and suppress the immune system include minoxidil, anthralin, SADBE, and DCPC. While they help hair regrowth, they do not prevent new bald patches from forming.
In addition to the treatment, alopecia areata sufferers are also advised to provide more protection in bald areas. Alopecia areata sufferers can use sunscreen when doing outdoor activities, or wear glasses to protect the eyes from sunlight and dirt.
In addition, sufferers also need to use head protection such as hats, wigs, and scarves so that the scalp can be protected from sunlight, or to keep the scalp warm when the air is cold.
Prevention of Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata cannot be prevented because the cause is unknown. This autoimmune disorder may be caused by several factors. Including family history, other autoimmune conditions, and even other skin conditions.
However, there are several preventive measures that can be taken, including:
- Limit the use of hair care devices that risk damaging or drying out hair.
- Limit the use of chemicals for hair.