Alopecia is a hair loss condition that often presents itself as the loss of hair in patches, usually on the scalp but they could be on the legs, arms, etc… The patches are often rounding, perhaps tingly, and the hair around the edges is more easily pulled out, this isn’t destructive.

Alopecia areata is medical condition; it is also believed to be a form of autoimmune disease. Well, that’s because Alopecia occurs when the body’s immune system rejects its’ own hair follicles. Thus, it’s causing hair to fall out. But there are more specific versions.

Alopecia doesn’t just affect the hair on the head. Alopecia areata barbae is in the beard, while Alopecia areata universalis covers the whole body including legs, pubic hair, eyebrows and nasal hair. Both men and women suffer from Alopecia. It can affect people from every race and nationality. The disease can also strike at any age - but, most of the time symptoms present themselves in the teenage years

It’s not contagious, but it is more common if others in the family have had it or an auto-immune disease. It’s a possible side effect of the drug Prilosec, and of vitamin B5 deficiency, but by far the most common trigger is stress and that can be from all sorts of events such as sudden shock, chronic stress, physical trauma, injury, pregnancy, allergies, chemicals and infections.

Signs and Symptoms of Alopecia

Hair loss is the general symptom of Alopecia. The different patterns of hair loss determine what type of alopecia a person has. Alopecia Areata, is a form of Alopecia wherein the patient develops bald spots on the scalp. That is the reason why it is also referred to as Spot Baldness. Diffuse Alopecia on the other hand presents with an even degree of hair loss all over the scalp. Alopecia Barbe refers to spot baldness on beard region and Alopecia Universalis is when a person looses all body’s hair. Early symptoms of Alopecia often include tenderness (pain to touch) on the bald spots.

Alopecia Diagnostic

Diagnosis of Alopecia often involves a biopsy of the affected scalp tissue. This will determine if the hair fall has been really been caused by Alopecia and not by other causes. Another telltale sign of Alopecia is referred to as - Exclamation Point Hair. It means that the strands of the affected hair taper off towards the roots.

The different kinds of alopecia are as follows:

• Alopecia Areata: is a kind of alopecia that refers to hair loss that occurs in rounded patches. These patches can appear anywhere on the body.
• Alopecia Totalis: refers to the loss of hair on the scalp. As the name suggests, alopecia totalis is total baldness.
• Alopecia Universalis: is a kind of alopecia where the affected person loses all the hair on his or her body.
• Alopecia Barbae: happens only with men. There is the loss of hair on the beard area.
• Alopecia Mucinosa: happens when the hair loss is accompanied by the appearance of scaly patches on the skin.
• Anagen Effluvium: is hair loss that is commonly associated with chemotherapy and with taking certain kinds of medication. In anagen effluvium, the hair falls off in patches, although it grows back as soon as the chemotherapy or the consumption of certain drugs is stopped.
• Telogen Effluvium: is also called temporary hair loss. It happens when the amount of hair being shed is more than normal and the hair visibly thins.
• Androgenetic Alopecia: is the type of alopecia that is considered hereditary. It is also known as male pattern baldness, although it can also affect women. In androgenetic alopecia, the hair on the scalp turns nearly transparent before falling off.
• Scarring Alopecia: Scarring alopecia happens when the hair shedding leaves the skin scarred.
• Traction Alopecia: When a person is prone to pulling too much at his or her hair due to styling perhaps or personal habits, the excessive pulling can discourage the hair follicles to stop developing new cells for new hair. The shedding that occurs as a result is called traction alopecia.

Treatment of Alopecia

There are several available treatments for Alopecia, your doctor need to make decision for proper treatment.

• Minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Proscar): are two relatively new drugs—promote hair growth in a significant minority of patents.
• UVB: is generally used to treat skin conditions but is also used for people with severe hair loss.
• Steroid injections: are commonly used in sites where there are small areas of hair loss on the head or especially where eyebrow hair has been lost.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs: are prescribed for autoimmune diseases.
• Corticosteroids: can be given as an injection into the scalp or other areas, orally (as a pill), or applied topically (rubbed into the skin) as an ointment, cream, or foam.
• Hair transplantation: is completed by taking tiny plugs of skin, each containing one to several hairs, from the back side of the scalp. Another surgical procedure used to treat androgenic alopecia is scalp reduction.
• Cortisone pills: are sometimes given for extensive scalp hair loss. Cortisone taken internally is much stronger than local injections of cortisone into the skin. It is necessary to discuss possible side effects of cortisone pills with your physician.
• Cosmetic and protective techniques: that people with alopecia areata can try. Include is Using makeup to hide or minimize hair loss. Wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from the sun and the environment. Wearing coverings (wigs, hats, or scarves) to protect the head from the elements.