Alopecia areata is one type of hair loss. The exact number of people affected by this kind of hair loss is not known. Estimates vary between 1 in 1000 to 2 in 100 people being affected at some point in their life. This kind of situation can occur at any age but most cases first develop in teenagers and children. In about 6 in 10 cases the first patch of hair loss develops before the age of 20 years. Males and females are equally affected maybe not in the same proportion but the females are affecting too. The typical pattern is for one or more bald patches to appear on the scalp. These tend to be round in shape, and about the size of a large coin. They develop quite quickly. A relative, friend, or hairdresser may be the first person to notice the bald patch or patches. Apart from the bald patch or patches, the scalp usually looks healthy and there is no scarring. Occasionally, there is some mild redness, mild scaling, mild burning, or a slight itchy feeling on the bald patches. Maybe the situation is so complicated but is important that you need to know that you have some options to resolve this problem because this problem appears like patches and is so complicated to predict how it will progress or appear too. This situation is thought to be an auto-immune disease. The immune system makes white blood cells and antibodies to attack bacteria, viruses, and other germs. If you have an auto immune disease, your immune system mistakes part or parts of your body as foreign

Alopecia areata and diagnosis are usually based on typical appearance of the bald patches. If there is doubt about cause of the hair loss, sometimes some blood tests or skin scrapping from a bald patch may be done to rule out other causes of baldness. A small skin biopsy small sample is sometimes taken to look at under the microscope.

Alopecia areata causes in people with this kind of alopecia, many white blood cells gather around the affected hair roots hair follicles which are mistaken as foreign. This causes mild inflammation which leads in some way to hairs becoming weak and falling out to cause bald patches. Maybe this is one of the most common situations that can affect you.

For alopecia areata maybe the most widely accepted hypothesis is that this kind of hair loss is a T-cell mediated autoimmune condition that is most likely to occur in genetically predisposed individuals. But the reality is that maybe many other factors can affect you too. But genetic factors likely play an important role in determining susceptibility and disease severity too.

Alopecia has three stages. First there is sudden loss of hair, then enlargement of the patches of hair loss. Lastly new hair grows back, often initially coloured white or grey. It may take months and sometimes years to re grow all the hair. One patch can be falling out while another is re growing. Alopecia areata is a reality too.

Improve your knowledge on alopecia areata treatment. Discover all the options for alopecia areata patients and learn about alopecia areata causes.