Hair Loss Disease: What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. Alopecia areata is the most common form of a rare skin disease resulting in autoimmune hair loss in patches on the scalp. It usually starts with a small patch of hair loss and continues with one or more small, round patches of hair loss on the head. Alopecia areata affects about 2% of the total population, of which more than 5 million people in the United States, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF). Alopecia areata is considered a disease of the skin, because it occurs in the skin, hair or scalp, and is usually diagnosed by a dermatologist. Fortunately, experts agree, are not included rash, hives or itching, although exposed areas of the scalp require extra care. In 1990, areata is classified as an autoimmune disease. The researchers found that the disease is the result of inadequate body produces an immune response against itself. However, “I think the majority of patients report a history of severe stress, prompting the condition,” says Sara Wasserbauer, MD, a board certified, California-based hair transplant surgeon. The CycleDr normal hair growth. Wasserbrauer explains that the growth rate of scalp hair is approximately one quarter of an inch each month. The hair growth cycle is a repetition that can be interrupted by genetics, disease, drugs, infections or other common factors that can cause hair loss. During the anagen phase of growth, actively growing hair follicles to catagen phase, in which follicle growth slows. During the telogen phase, the follicle is based before the start of a new anagen phase or an axis of new hair growth. Like the new hair shaft pushes the dead hair shaft ‘, removes old hair. “About 50-100 telogen hairs are normally shed every day and is in the comb, brush and shower drain,” says Dr. Wasserbrauer. Approximately 10 percent of scalp hair follicles are usually in the telogen phase at any time if the scalp is healthy and not subject to any condition that causes hair loss. What does “autoimmune” Mean? According to The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions autoimmune Research Center, a healthy human body uses a set of effective weapons, the immune system against viruses, bacteria and parasites that can attack the body. Unfortunately, the immune system mistakenly attacks sometimes powerful body. Incorrect answers are called autoimmune immune. In alopecia areata, is your hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by its immune system, causing an interruption in the growth phase of hair. NAAF AlopeciaThe Types classifies three types of alopecia. The first is alopecia areata, which is in the form of random patches of hair loss. When you lose a head full of hair is called alopecia totalis, and when extending the total loss of body hair is called alopecia universalis, there is no sure cure for the condition, but many physicians prescribe medications to help control the episodes. In all forms of alopecia, hair follicles are alive and willing to resume normal hair production whenever they receive the right signal in the body. In all cases, hair regrowth may occur even without treatment and even after many years, according to the NAAF. Do You ‘Alopecia Catch’ … experts or genetic? I think there is a genetic component to alopecia areata, as one of five people who have symptoms, have a family member is also affected by hair loss, according to the NAAF. Current research has found that if the onset begins after 30 years is less likely to have an affected family member. When launching the first patch of alopecia areata begins before age 30 are more likely to be affected family members. The NAAF has focused much of its research to investigate the genetic elements of the disease finally identify who is most susceptible to the disease and why. “Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the name of the disease is not associated with a particular gene (or genes) and not yet identified with certainty,” says Dr. Wasserbauer. The treatment for alopecia is OptionsAccording NAAF specific FDA-approved treatments for alopecia areata, however, many doctors are willing to try off-label treatments. There are treatment options for mild cases, irregular areata (less than 50% of hair loss), but neither treatment acceptable work in all cases. Many designers use laser therapy low light to stimulate hair follicles to create new hair, which works only on clients who still have active follicles in the early stages of hair loss.
