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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">What is Alopecia Areata?</span></h2>
<p>What causes it and how can it be treated? Hair loss is one of the common health concerns nowadays, especially &#8220;Alopecia Areata,&#8221; which affects both the body and the mental health of patients. If you are facing this problem, learning and understanding Alopecia Areata in detail—from its causes to symptoms—will help you manage and plan appropriate treatment for this condition.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">What is Alopecia Areata?</span></h2>
<p>Alopecia Areata is a type of hair loss that appears as clearly defined patches. There may be only one patch or multiple clumps of hair loss. It is a hair loss condition that occurs when the body&#8217;s immune system malfunctions and attacks the hair follicles, which are structures in the skin that produce hair, resulting in hair loss.</p>
<p>This condition can occur in all genders, ages, and races. Approximately 2% of the global population may develop this disease.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">Characteristics of Alopecia Areata</span></h2>
<p>The distinct features of Alopecia Areata that can be clearly observed are as follows:</p>
<ol>
<li>Hair loss in circular or oval shapes</li>
<li>The size of the hair loss patches ranges from as small as a coin to larger areas</li>
<li>The skin in the hair loss area is usually smooth and without inflammation</li>
<li>White hairs may be found at the edges of the hair loss patches</li>
</ol>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">Types of Alopecia Areata</span></h2>
<p>Alopecia Areata can also be classified by location and severity as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Alopecia areata (AA): Patchy hair loss of various sizes on the scalp, which may also involve hair loss in other areas</li>
<li>Alopecia totalis (AT): Extensive hair loss over the entire scalp</li>
<li>Alopecia universalis (AU): Complete loss of hair on the scalp and all other body hair, such as eyebrows, beard, eyelashes, armpit hair, pubic hair, and hair on arms and legs</li>
</ul>
<p>The severity of Alopecia Areata varies among individuals. Some may have only a small single patch or clumps of hair loss, while others may have multiple patches or progression to total scalp hair loss.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">Common Symptoms of Alopecia Areata</span></h2>
<p>The main symptom of Alopecia Areata is patchy hair loss. The affected areas are usually circular or oval and may appear suddenly anywhere on the body where hair grows.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">In some cases, people with Alopecia Areata may experience the following symptoms:</span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Thinning hair: Hair strands may thin before falling out</li>
<li>Brittle or short broken hairs close to the scalp due to fragile new hair growth</li>
<li>Itching or burning sensation on the scalp before hair loss</li>
<li>New hair growth may initially be white or lighter in color</li>
<li>Nail changes such as thinning, brittleness, or small dents</li>
</ul>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">Causes of Alopecia Areata</span></h2>
<p>The exact cause of Alopecia Areata is still unknown, but it is believed to result from a combination of genetics and environmental factors that may trigger or stimulate the disease, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Genetics: People with a family history of Alopecia Areata have a higher risk than the general population</li>
<li>Immune system dysfunction / Autoimmune response: The body may produce antibodies that attack its own hair follicles, causing inflammation and hair loss. This may be seen in individuals with other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease, vitiligo, or type 1 diabetes, who have a higher risk than normal</li>
<li>Stress: Severe stress may trigger symptoms of the disease</li>
<li>Infections: Sometimes viral or bacterial infections may trigger the disease</li>
<li>Hormonal imbalance: Changes in hormone levels in the body may affect the development of the disease</li>
<li>Environmental toxins: Exposure to certain chemicals may increase the risk of the disease</li>
</ul>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">How to cope with Alopecia Areata?</span></h2>
<p>Discovering that you have Alopecia Areata can cause increased stress and anxiety. Knowing how to manage it initially can help reduce severity and plan appropriate treatment. You should do the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>Consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis: Seeing a dermatologist or a hair and scalp specialist is important to confirm the diagnosis and plan suitable treatment</li>
<li>Learn about the disease: Understanding the condition will help you better cope with the situation and participate in treatment decisions</li>
<li>Maintain overall health: Eating nutritious food, exercising regularly, and getting enough rest will help strengthen the immune system and overall health</li>
<li>Manage stress: Since stress can worsen the condition, learning relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing can be helpful</li>
</ol>
<p>Managing Alopecia Areata may take time and patience, but with proper care <strong>both physically and mentally, and prompt treatment</strong>, it can be effectively controlled.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">What treatments are available for Alopecia Areata?</span></h2>
<p>Treatment for Alopecia Areata depends on the affected area, age, and severity of the condition. Treatments include:</p>
<p>1. Steroid medications</p>
<ul>
<li>Corticosteroid injections at the affected hair loss areas to reduce scalp inflammation. This is commonly used in patients with clear patches of hair loss. After injection, new hair growth can be observed within 4 weeks, and injections can be repeated every 4-6 weeks as needed until hair regrows.</li>
<li>Topical corticosteroids are usually used in patients with mild severity or in young children who cannot tolerate injections.</li>
<li>Oral steroids may be used in severe cases or when hair loss is widespread over the scalp.</li>
</ul>
<p>2. Minoxidil: Topical minoxidil is usually used as an adjunct treatment alongside corticosteroids to enhance effectiveness.</p>
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<p>3. Contact immunotherapy: In cases of severe hair loss, topical immunotherapy may be recommended. This involves applying Diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) on the scalp to stimulate an immune response that can promote hair regrowth.</p>
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<p>4. Oral immunosuppressants: Immunosuppressive drugs or JAK inhibitors may be prescribed for severe cases. Suppressing the immune system helps prevent further hair loss. However, patients should receive continuous treatment and monitoring to assess treatment response, adjust medication, and monitor side effects.</p>
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<p>5. Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy: This involves injecting the patient&#8217;s own platelet-rich plasma into the hair loss areas to stimulate hair growth.</p>
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<p>6. Hair transplantation: This is an option for those with extensive hair loss who do not respond to other treatments. Hair transplantation involves moving hair from dense areas to the bald patches.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a">Frequently Asked Questions about Alopecia Areata</span></h2>
<ol>
<li>Can Alopecia Areata be cured? With treatment, over 60% of patients will have full hair regrowth in the affected patches within 1 year. However, relapse can occur; 40% of patients experience recurrence within the first year, and 30% have chronic, recurring symptoms. Therefore, continuous monitoring and health care are important.</li>
<li>Who is affected by Alopecia Areata? Alopecia Areata affects both men and women, commonly those under 40 years old. It is more frequent in people with a family history, certain thyroid diseases, allergic skin conditions, vitiligo, or some autoimmune diseases.</li>
<li>Is Alopecia Areata contagious? No, Alopecia Areata is not contagious as it is caused by the body&#8217;s own immune system.</li>
<li>Can Alopecia Areata be prevented? Since the exact cause is unknown, direct prevention is difficult. However, maintaining overall health, reducing stress, and eating nutritious food may help lower the risk.</li>
<li>Can stress cause Alopecia Areata? Although stress is not a direct cause, it can trigger symptoms or worsen the condition. Managing stress is therefore an important part of treatment.</li>
</ol>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="text-align: right" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Wipawan Wattananyai</div>
<div style="text-align: right" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Hair Transplant Surgeon and Dermatologist</div>
<p style="text-align: right">Hair and Scalp Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital</p>
<p style="text-align: right">Tel. 02-467-1111 ext. 1432</p>


What is Alopecia Areata? Symptoms, Causes, How to Cope, and Appropriate Treatment for Circular Patchy Hair Loss

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What is Alopecia Areata? Understand the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Approaches

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