<\/span><\/h2>\nThe term alopecia means hair<\/span> lost. In alopecia areata, one or more round, bald patches appear suddenly, most often on the scalp. Alopecia areata is also called autoimmune<\/span> alopecia, which can also cause diffuse<\/span> alopecia. <\/p>\n\n<\/span>Alopecia areata<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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Alopecia areata<\/p>\n
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Alopecia areata<\/p>\n
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Alopecia areata<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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See more images of alopecia areata.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Who gets Alopecia Areata?<\/span><\/h2>\nAlopecia areata can affect men and women at any age. It begins in childhood at about 50%, and before age 40 at 80%. The lifetime risk is from 1 to 2% and is independent of ethnicity.<\/p>\n
\n- There is a family history of alopecia areata and \/ or other autoimmune diseases in 10-25% of the patients.<\/li>\n
- At least 8 susceptibility genes<\/span> have been detected<\/li>\n
- Alopecia areata patients have higher than expected rates of thyroid disease, vitiligo, and atopic<\/span> eczema<\/span>.<\/li>\n
- There is an increase predominance<\/span> in patients with chromosomal<\/span> disorders like Down syndrome<\/span>.<\/li>\n
- It is possibly drug-induced when it arises in patients on biological drugs.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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<\/span>What causes alopecia areata?<\/span><\/h2>\nAlopecia areata is classified as an autoimmune disorder. It is histologically<\/span> characterized by T cells<\/span> around the hair follicles<\/span>. These 2D-positive group N8 CDG (+) NK T cells (NKG2D (+)) release proinflammatory<\/span> cytokines<\/span> and chemokines<\/span> that reject hair The exact mechanism is not yet understood.<\/p>\nThe start o reappearance<\/span> Hair loss is sometimes triggered by:<\/p>\n\n- Viral infection<\/span>\n<\/li>\n
- Trauma<\/span><\/li>\n
- Hormonal change<\/li>\n
- Emotional \/ physical stressors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>What are the clinical features of alopecia areata?<\/span><\/h2>\nVarious clinical patterns of alopecia areata are described. The most serious disease is associated with early age, concurrent<\/span> atopic eczema and chromosomal abnormalities.<\/p>\nMost patients have no symptoms and have baldness patch<\/span> or thinning hair is noted incidentally, often discovered by a hairdresser. Other patients describe a burning and prickly discomfort in the affected areas, this is known as trichodynia.<\/p>\n<\/span>Alopecia areata irregular<\/span><\/h3>\nAlopecia areata patches can affect any hairy area, most often the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and beard.<\/p>\n
Irregular alopecia areata has three stages.<\/p>\n
\n- Sudden hair loss<\/li>\n
- Enlarged patch or bald patches<\/li>\n
- Regrow hair<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Bald areas may have a smooth, completely hairless or scattered 'exclamation mark' hair surface.<\/p>\n
\n- The exclamation mark hairs are 2-3 mm long, broken or tapered, with a club-shaped root. Microscopy<\/span> (also called dermoscopy or tricoscopy) shows a proximal<\/span> shaft and normal gauge distal<\/span> axis.<\/li>\n
- Regrowing hairs are usually initially white or gray; They can be curled even when previously they were straight.<\/li>\n
- It can take months and sometimes years for all hair to grow back.<\/li>\n
- One patch may fall off while another grows back.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Total alopecia<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Affects up to 5% in patients with autoimmune hair loss<\/li>\n
- All or almost all scalp hair is lost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Universal alopecia<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Affects less than 1% of cases<\/li>\n
- All or almost all hair is lost throughout the body.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Ophiasis<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- A pattern of alopecia areata that affects the occipital<\/span> and side<\/span> scalp<\/li>\n
- The bald area can surround the scalp.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Diffuse alopecia areata<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Sometimes called alopecia areata incognito<\/li>\n
- It presents with sudden diffuse alopecia\n<\/li>\n
- Persistent hair tends to be gray, hence descriptions of 'turning white overnight'<\/li>\n
- Positive hair pull test<\/span>\n<\/li>\n
- Diffuse alopecia areata can be confused with telogen<\/span> effluvium or hair loss due to medications.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Alopecia areata nail<\/span>
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