Alopecia (also known as baldness or hair loss) refers to loss or lack of hair on part of or the entire scalp and in some cases, other parts of the body. Hair loss can be temporary or permanent and can affect people of all ages. Although alopecia can occur anywhere on the body, it is most distressing when it affects the scalp.

Alopecia is the medical term for loss of hair usually in a circumscribed manner from the head, scalp or body, sometimes to the extent of complete baldness.

Alopecia Areata affects approximately 2% of the overall population, including more than 5 million people in the United States, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF). Alopecia Areata is considered a skin disease because it occurs on the skin of the hair, or scalp, and is usually diagnosed by your dermatologist. Luckily, agree experts, it includes no rashes, hives or itching, although exposed scalp areas do require extra care.

What are the Types of Alopecia?

Some of the commonly occurring types of Alopecia include, Androgenetic Alopecia, Diffuse Alopecia, Traction Alopecia, Cicatricial Alopecia and Alopecia Areatea. Alopecia Areatea is further classified into Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis.

Alopecia Totalis is an autoimmune disorder, in which there is complete loss of hair on the scalp. In the case of Alopecia Universalis, the person experiences loss of hair all over the body, e.g. eyelashes, pubic hair, etc.

What Causes Alopecia?

There is growing evidence to suggest that alopecia is largely an auto-immune disorder in which the body attacks its own hair follicles, thereby causing hair fall and an arresting of further hair growth.

Although some of the causes of Alopecia remain obscure, there are a few factors that have definitely been found to predispose a person to developing this condition. Besides auto-immune factors, some other factors that are known to precipitate alopecia include: heredity, emotional stress, hormonal imbalances, nutritional imbalances, physical stress, infectious causes, etc.

Types of Alopecia

We can distinguish between different types of alopecia. The most common types include: Scar less Alopecia: -Androgenetic alopecia: Also known as common alopecia as it is the most frequent form of alopecia. Hair loss starts from age 18, and is apparent between the ages of 25 and 30. In this type of hair loss, lost hair is replaced by increasingly thinner and shorter hair follicles, and in some cases even transparent hair. This type of alopecia is inherited from both father and mother. In these cases there is an abundance of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone within the hair follicle. DHT causes the atrophy of the follicle, reducing the growth cycle. Although the follicle is technically alive, each time it grows back even smaller. Some follicles just die, but most are smaller, and fluffier.

The available alopecia areata treatment options

There are treatment options available for mild, patchy Alopecia Areata (less than 50% scalp hair loss) however none of the acceptable treatments work in all cases. Many hairstylists are using low-light laser therapy to stimulate the follicles to create new hair which only works on clients who still have active hair follicles at the beginning stages of hair loss.

The alopecia areata cure options can be divided into four different categories of widely accepted therapeutic modalities: -

o Immune inhibitors such as steroids or Psoralen and UV-A light (PUVA)

o Topical sensitizers such as squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) and diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP)

o Non-specific irritants (Anthralin)

o Vasodilators such as Minoxidil hair treatment

An important thing is to be noted about the treatment goals of all these modules. They are directed at hair re-growth cosmetically acceptable to the patients. These treatments do not prevent hair loss.

The most widely available treatment options

The most widely available alopecia areata treatment options include the following -

o Topical corticosteroids

o Locally injected corticosteroids or a combination therapy using minoxidil

o Anthralin

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