Has anyone experienced alopecia areata?

Question

Everyone I talked to has said stress was the cause, my doctor says otherwise. Is there anything that helps speed up hair growth or do I just have to wait.

Answer 1

unfortunately alopecia areata is a hair disease....you will have to wait up to a yr b4 it will grow back with no medical treatment. it can make all hair on your body fall out, not just on your scalp. these are two different types of alopecia areata. alopecia totalis is the disease of 100% hair loss on the scalp. Alopecia universalis is 100% hair loss of body hair. your doc is right, stress is not the number one factor to cause alopecia, it is mostly genetic. although stress does tend to make your hair fall out more than normal, it is not the factor in alopecia. i wish you luck on this disease...be chic and shave it all off and enbrace what GOD has handed you....but if you feel uncomfortable being bald....look into buying a wig. BEST OF LUCK!!!!!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

"Everyone I talked to" does not have a medical degree, nor have they probably looked in to the disease.

You must do your own research and, until you do, trust your doctor to know more than the butcher, the baker, or strangers on Answers know.

Here's a place to start:
http://www.naaf.org/

(I was bald from chemo for a year, and actually loved the look! But that's me, not you.)

Answer 5

Alopecia areata (al-oh-PEE-shah air-ee-AH-tah) is a highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. This common but very challenging and capricious disease affects approximately 1.7 percent of the population overall, including more than 5 million people in the United States alone. Due to the fact that much of the public is still not familiar with alopecia areata, the disease can have a profound impact on one's life and functional status, both at work and at school.

In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by a person's own immune system (white blood cells), resulting in the arrest of the hair growth stage. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis).

Alopecia areata occurs in males and females of all ages and races; however, onset most often begins in childhood and can be psychologically devastating. Although not life-threatening, alopecia areata is most certainly life-altering, and its sudden onset, recurrent episodes, and unpredictable course have a profound psychological impact on the lives of those disrupted by this disease.


What is alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease that results in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere. It usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches. It occurs in males and females of all ages and races, but onset most often occurs in childhood. It is estimated that approximately two percent of the population will be affected at some point in their lives, or over 4.5 million people in the United States.

In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked in groups by a person's own immune system (white blood cells), resulting in the arrest of the hair growth stage. These affected follicles become very small, drastically slow down production, and grow no hair visible above the surface for months or years. The scalp is the most commonly affected area, but the beard or any hair-bearing site can be affected alone or together with the scalp.

Some people develop only a few bare patches that regrow hair within a year. In others, extensive patchy loss occurs, and in a few, all scalp hair is lost (referred to as alopecia totalis) or, hair is lost from the entire scalp and body (referred to as alopecia universalis). No matter how widespread the hair loss, the hair follicles remain alive and are ready to resume normal hair production whenever they receive the appropriate signal. In all cases, hair regrowth may occur even without treatment and even after many years.

Where can I get help?
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation was founded in 1981 when a young Californian with the disease looked for others to share and understand her problems. It has grown into the world center of alopecia areata information, research, and service. Located in San Rafael, California, the Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and has a professional Chief Executive Officer and staff. The Foundation is represented in Washington, D.C., and the Chief Executive Officer and others have testified before Congressional Committees.

What is the signal that triggers the disease to start or stop?
Current research suggests that something triggers the immune system to suppress the hair follicle. It isn't known what this trigger is, and whether it comes from outside the body like a virus, or from inside. Recent research indicates that some persons have genetic markers that increase both their susceptibility to develop alopecia areata, as well as the degree of disease severity.

Is alopecia areata hereditary?
Yes, heredity plays a role. In one out of five persons with alopecia areata, someone else in the family also has it. Those who develop alopecia areata for the first time after the age of thirty years have less likelihood that another family member will have it. Those who develop their first patch of alopecia areata before the age of thirty have a higher possibility that other family members will also have it.

Alopecia areata often occurs in families whose members have had asthma, hay fever, atopic eczema, or other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease, early-onset diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, vitiligo, pernicious anemia, or Addison's disease.

What other parts of the body are affected?
In some people, the nails develop stippling that looks as if a pin had made rows of tiny dents. In a few, the nails are severely distorted. However, other than the hair and occasionally the nails, no other part of the body is affected.

How will alopecia areata affect my daily life?
Alopecia areata is not medically disabling; persons with alopecia areata are usually in excellent health. But emotionally, this disease can be challenging, especially for those with extensive hair loss. One of the purposes of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation is to reach out to individuals and families with alopecia areata and help them live full, productive lives. There are thousands of successful, well-adjusted, contented people living with this disease. The emotional pain of alopecia areata can be overcome with one's own inner resources, sound medical facts, and the support of others. Sometimes professional counseling from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker is needed to develop one's self-confidence and positive self-image.

Does the hair ever grow back?
Yes, the hair definitely can grow even after years of extensive hair loss. It can also fall out again.

Is alopecia areata due to nerves?
No, it is not a nervous disorder. Those who have alopecia areata have not caused it and have no control over its course.

Is it necessary to change plans regarding school, sports, friends, career, dating, and marriage?
No, not at all. People with alopecia areata do not need to limit their activities or expectations. They can do whatever they want to do.

Is there a cure for alopecia areata?
At present, there is no cure for alopecia areata, although the hair may return by itself. There are various treatments, which are most effective in milder cases, but none are universally effective.

Are treatments available?
There are several available treatments; choice of treatment depends mainly on a person's age and the extent of their hair loss.

Alopecia areata occurs in two forms: a mild patchy form where less than 50 percent of scalp hair is lost, and an extensive form where greater than 50 percent of scalp hair is lost. These two forms of alopecia areata behave quite differently, and the choice of treatment depends on which form is present.

Current treatments do not turn alopecia areata off; they stimulate the follicle to produce hair again, and treatments need to be continued until the disease turns itself off. Treatments are most effective in milder cases.

What treatments are available for mild, patchy alopecia areata where less than 50 percent scalp hair is lost?
Cortisone injections. The most common treatment is the injection of cortisone into the bare skin patches. The injections are usually given by a dermatologist who uses a tiny needle to give multiple injections into the skin in and around the bare patches. The injections are repeated once a month. Both the needle prick and the slight tingling are usually well tolerated and there is no discomfort after leaving the doctor's office. If new hair growth occurs, it is usually visible within four weeks. Treatment, however, does not prevent new patches from developing. There are few side effects from local cortisone injections. Occasionally, temporary depressions in the skin result from the local injections, but these "dells" usually fill in by themselves.

Topical minoxidil. Five percent topical minoxidil solution applied twice daily may grow hair in alopecia areata. Scalp, eyebrows, and beard hair may respond. If scalp hair regrows completely, treatment can be stopped. Two percent topical minoxidil solution alone is not effective in alopecia areata; response may improve if cortisone cream is applied 30 minutes after the minoxidil. Topical minoxidil is safe, easy to use, and does not lower blood pressure in persons with normal blood pressure. Neither 2 percent nor 5 percent topical minoxidil solution is effective in treating those with 100 percent scalp hair loss.

Anthralin cream or ointment. Another treatment is the application of anthralin cream or ointment. Anthralin is a synthetic, tar-like substance that has been used widely for psoriasis. Anthralin is applied to the bare patches once daily and washed off after a short time, usually 30 to 60 minutes later. If new hair growth occurs, it is seen in eight to twelve weeks. Anthralin can be irritating to the skin and can cause temporary, brownish discoloration of the treated skin. By using short treatment times, skin irritation and skin staining are reduced without decreasing effectiveness. Care must be taken not to get anthralin in the eyes. Hands must be washed after applying.

What treatments are available for extensive alopecia areata where greater than 50 percent hair is lost?
Cortisone pills. 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. Healthy young adults often tolerate cortisone pills with few side effects. In general, however, cortisone pills are used in relatively few patients with alopecia areata due to health risks from prolonged use. Also, regrown hair is likely to fall out when the cortisone pills are stopped.

Topical minoxidil. See previous explanation under mild, patchy alopecia areata.

Topical immunotherapy. Another method of treating alopecia areata or alopecia totalis/universalis, is known as topical immunotherapy and it involves producing an allergic rash or allergic contact dermatitis. Chemicals such as diphencyprone (DPCP) or squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) are applied to the scalp to produce an allergic rash which resembles poison oak or ivy. Approximately 40% of patients treated with topical immunotherapy will regrow scalp hair after about six months of treatment. Those who do successfully regrow scalp hair still need to continue the treatment to maintain the hair regrowth, at least until the disease turns itself off. An itchy rash may be uncomfortable in very hot weather, especially under a wig. These treatments are not widely available in the United States, although they are used frequently in Canada and Europe.

Wigs. In general, treatments are much less effective for extensive alopecia areata (particularly alopecia totalis/alopecia universalis). For this reason, an attractive wig is an important option for some people. Proper attention will make a quality wig look completely natural; every wig has to be cut, thinned, and styled, often several times. To keep a net base wig from falling off, even during active sports, special double-sided tape can be purchased in beauty supply outlets and fastened to the inside of the wig.

For those with completely bare heads, there are suction caps to which any wig can be attached, and there are entire suction cap wig units. These state-of-the-art wigs which make use of a silicon base to create a secure, vacuum-fit, are comfortable and easily removed by the wearer. Proper fit of a vacuum wig requires that any existing scalp hair be shaved. These wigs are generally more expensive than other types of wigs.