Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD “About 2 months ago I noticed a bald spot on the side of my head. It doesn’t hurt or itch, and I haven’t done anything to cause it. My doctor told me I have alopecia areata and that my hair would grow back eventually. I’m super embarrassed and worried and don’t want to be bald. What’s the best way of treating alopecia areata?”
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a very common hair loss condition that affects about 2 out of every hundred people. People that develop alopecia areata typically experience small areas of hair loss on the scalp. These areas are often about the size of a quarter. The bald patches of alopecia areata are usually noticed on the scalp, but alopecia areata can affect the beard and other areas of the body too. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition, which means that your immune system attacks your hair follicles, which weakens them and causes your hair to come out.
Alopecia areata doesn’t usually cause any symptoms. It’s not painful. Some people may notice a tingling or itching sensation in areas where the hair is starting to fall out, but many people don’t notice any symptoms at all. In most cases, alopecia areata just affects the hair on the scalp. Sometimes, though, it can affect the entire body, causing your body to lose all of its hair. We call this condition alopecia universalis. Luckily, alopecia universalis is pretty rare.
What Causes Alopecia Areata?
The exact causes of alopecia areata are unknown. We know that it’s an autoimmune condition, which means that the body attacks its own tissues. But the ‘why’ is poorly understood.’ Many people with alopecia areata seem to notice that their hair loss happens more if they are under stress or dealing with anxiety…but this isn’t scientifically proven. People with alopecia areata can also suffer from other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, thyroid disease and even the skin disease vitiligo.
Every case of alopecia areata is different. Some people suffer from it only once, the hair grows back, and then they never have a problem again. Others may develop bouts of alopecia areata throughout life. Some lose a little hair. Others may lose a lot.
Treatments for Alopecia Areata
There is no cure for alopecia areata, but there are many different treatments available. No one treatment is effective for all people with alopecia areata. Treatments for alopecia areata try to stop the inflammation around the hair follicle that makes your hair come out. Common treatments for alopecia areata include:
1. Corticosteroid creams
A prescription steroid cream usually used twice daily to help in treating alopecia areata.
2. Corticosteroid injections
Steroid injections are typically done monthly into the areas of hair loss. They are usually well tolerated and can help with hair growth.
3. Topical immunosuppressants
Prescription medications like tacrolimus help to suppress the immune system and decrease the inflammation that causes hair loss.
4. Topical immunotherapy
Chemical treatments are applied to the scalp that cause a mild allergic reaction on the scalp. This reaction can sometimes stimulate the hair to regrow.
5. Minoxidil/Rogaine
Minoxidil can be used for treating alopecia areata. It is an over the counter hair growth treatment. It’s used for treating female and male pattern thinning, but it’s also sometimes used to help with hair regrowth in alopecia areata. You can read more about minoxidil here.
In some severe cases, oral steroids or other oral medications that suppress the immune system are used for treating alopecia areata. Recently, newer classes of medications called JAK Inhibitors have been used for treating alopecia areata. Read up about them here.
Conclusions
Alopecia areata is a pretty common condition, and many adults that get it have a good prognosis. There are a number of ways of treating alopecia areata. In addition, minimizing your stress and anxiety may be helpful too! Remember, beside alopecia areata, there are many causes of alopecia! It’s important that you see your dermatologist to find out what’s causing your hair loss, and decide on the course of treatment that’s best for you!
