Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes sudden hair loss, especially on the scalp, but it can also happen on the eyebrows, beard or even another area of the body. It usually happens at an early age and is common in both men and women. Sometimes itching can occur along with hair loss, but usually there are no other associated symptoms.
This type of hair loss victimizes roughly around 1 to 2 percent of the population. Alopecia areata shows visible bald patches on the human scalp and on any part of the body and as the name insinuates, it can occur on certain areas, seen as thinning of hair and bald spots on several regions of the body.
In a more conspicuous and complicated manner, alopecia areata can progress to alopecia totals, then later to alopecia universalis in which the entire scalp and the overall body is afflicted.
Majority of the medical practitioners have found out that alopecia areata is an autoimmune deficiency wherein white blood cells of the immune system mistakenly attack the hair follicles and block them from producing more hair.
This condition is similar to other autoimmune disorders like vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus and the likes which more frequently, these unfavorable conditions are inevitably linked to genetics.
Based on gathered medical studies, discoveries of information and analysis, alopecia areata affects children, teens, and young adults. However, its onset is in early childhood. This certain type of hair loss is generally considered autoimmune and it is unlikely to be contagious.
Alopecia areata does not bother people having it with pain and is not life threatening and as a matter of fact, people burdened with it are typically healthy otherwise. Unluckily, autoimmune disorders such as alopecia areata are seemingly incurable. In most cases, hair can grow back but eventually falls out again, while others grow new hair and stay.
Symptoms on the other hand can be alleviated by using accurate and beneficial treatments. Steroid injections are used for mild to moderate alopecia areata in conjunction with efficient creams or solutions. Topical coal tar, topical immunotherapy and minoxidil are best used with other hair loss treatments to lessen severity of the symptoms.