What is alopecia areata?

Question

How does alopecia areata relate to lupus?

Answer 1

BACKGROUND--A small percentage of patients with alopecia areata have connective diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma. Lupus erythematosus is associated with a number of different types of alopecia, but the incidence of alopecia areata in lupus erythematosus has not been examined. OBSERVATIONS--Of our cohort of 39 patients with lupus erythematosus, alopecia areata developed in 10% (four patients), in contrast to 0.42% of general dermatologic patients. Biopsy specimens of alopecia areata lesions in each of our patients showed continuous granular deposition of IgG at the dermoepidermal junction, a finding usually found in only a minority of alopecia areata cases. Intralesional injections of corticosteroids were effective treatment. CONCLUSIONS--The incidence of alopecia areata in patients with lupus erythematosus is increased. Recognition of this form of alopecia allows for specific therapy with intralesional corticosteroids.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

My seven year old daughter has alopecia areata. Alopecia affects the immune system. Unlike what I previously thought it is not a low or weak autoimmune system it comes from over activity. The immune system turns itself on the hair. Also unlike what others have said in the past it is not caused by stress and it can not be controlled or I should say stopped. You can use modulators and anti-imflamatory meds to help. I put my dauthers info in my 360 blog as this has been really hard for her and it helps to journal.

Now about Lupus: Here is some info I looked up:
Lupus is an auto immune disorder where the body´s immune system has lost its ability to distinguish between natural antigens (the body´s enemies such as bacteria, viruses and foreign materials) and its own cell tissues. So it is your own immune system that is actually causing the pain, inflammation and injury to your tissues.

They sound similiar in ways I would wonder if some of the internal treatments used for alopecia would work for lupus.

Answer 4

No, not a all. It's actually rare for me to hear in USA that alopecia areata is related to another disease. I'm Mexican american and I received treatment for alopecia areate in the 80's, A dermatologist in Mexico in my opinion know more about this.He made my hair grow back, but I decided to stop using the cortizone's injections because it has secondary effects, it's better not to use anything. Alopecia areata is not hereditary, nor is contagious and it's a big lie that is caused for being worried or nervous. The person who has alopecia areata doesn't feel anything, any doctor can take analisis of that person and results are gonna be completely normal, for the exception of the white blood cell that are gonna be high, because that's what it causes the hair loss. The white cells do not recognize the hair follicules and attack them without a reason. This "bad called disease" is only "estetic". There is no cure, the person who has it has not to deal with any pain or problem with the exception of the emotional matters for being treated with sorry (family and friends don't do that please).

Answer 5

Alopecia areata is a relatively common condition characterized by patchy hair loss. Alopecia areata affects approximately 1-2 percent of the population. Most have no other ailments apart from hair loss. Most lose hair only in a limited area. Usually, hair back, over several months. Read More!!
http://www.oslohudlegesenter.no/hudsykdommer-a-g-alopecia-areata.html

Answer 6

Lupus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect virtually any system in the body. Think of it as a 'self-allergy' where the body attacks its own cells and tissues, causing inflammation, pain, and possible organ damage.

Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune disease, in
which the immune system, which is designed to protect the
body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria,
mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny cup-shaped
structures from which hairs grow. This can lead to hair loss
on the scalp and elsewhere.
In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about
the size of a quarter. In many cases, the disease does not
extend beyond a few bare patches. In some people, hair loss
is more extensive. Although uncommon, the disease can
progress to cause total loss of hair on the head (referred to as
alopecia areata totalis) or complete loss of hair on the head,
face, and body (alopecia areata universalis).

Answer 7

Alopecia areata is a form of hair loss from areas of the body, usually from the scalp. Because it causes bald spots on the head especially in the first stages, it is sometimes called spot baldness. In 1–2% of cases, the condition can spread to the entire scalp ..

LUPUS
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect several parts of the body, including the skin (with its characteristic butterfly shaped allergic lesions), joints, blood, kidneys and possibly other organs. Lupus is an auto immune disorder where the body´s immune system has lost its ability to distinguish between natural antigens (the body´s enemies such as bacteria, viruses and foreign materials) and its own cell tissues. So it is your own immune system that is actually causing the pain, inflammation and injury to your tissues.

Answer 8

Hair loss affects both men and women. Here are some natural remedies that can help boost hair growth: https://tr.im/O8zaE
While genetics plays a role, there are other factors, including: hormonal imbalances, an underactive thyroid gland, nutrient deficiencies and insufficient scalp circulation.

Answer 9

There is a solution that works. Google the term 'cure spot baldness'. It causes some heat after application but works.

Answer 10

Alopecia Areata is characterised as one or more patches of reversible baldness in any hair bearing area. Approximately 2% of the population develop this condition at some point in their lives.

The tendency to develop Alopecia Areata may be inherited. However, parents of sufferers may not have been affected by the condition themselves.

Asthma, Eczema and Hay Fever (allergic type people) sufferers may be more likely to develop Alopecia Areata.

Alopecia Areata patches may appear suddenly or gradually. The severity differs greatly between cases. A person may develop a single bald patch or many. Bald patches may join to form large areas of baldness. A minority of cases may progress to Alopecia Totalis (total loss of scalp hair) or Alopecia Universalis (total loss of all hair)

Alopecia Areata is a condition whereby the auto-immune system malfunctions, attacks and destroys the hair, not recognising it as 'self' as it would if bacteria entered the body.

Some sufferers may notice a burning, stinging or soreness before the onset of a bald patch, this is due to the auto-immune response.

Stubble termed 'exclamation mark' hairs may be observed around the borders of a bald patch, an indicator that the condition is active or progressing. These are dead (telogen) hairs which have broken above the scalp surface, after the hairshafts have been weakened by the auto-immune response.

Treatment may help improve the rate of hair growth and in many cases stop or reduce hair loss. The success rate is higher in individuals who begin treatment when bald patches begin, than those who have suffered for years.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. The body's immune system normally makes proteins called antibodies to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens. In an autoimmune disorder such as lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances (antigens) and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against "self." These antibodies, called "auto-antibodies," react with the "self" antigens to form immune complexes. The immune complexes build up in the tissues and can cause inflammation, injury to tissues, and pain.

For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems.

There are three types of lupus: discoid, systemic, and drug-induced.

Discoid (cutaneous) lupus is always limited to the skin. It is identified by a rash that may appear on the face, neck, and scalp. Discoid lupus is diagnosed by examining a biopsy of the rash. In discoid lupus the biopsy will show abnormalities that are not found in skin without the rash. Discoid lupus does not generally involve the body's internal organs. Therefore, the ANA test may be negative in patients with discoid lupus. However, in a large number of patients with discoid lupus, the ANA test is positive, but at a low level or "titer."
In approximately 10 percent of patients, discoid lupus can evolve into the systemic form of the disease, which can affect almost any organ or system of the body. This cannot be predicted or prevented. Treatment of discoid lupus will not prevent its progression to the systemic form. Individuals who progress to the systemic form probably had systemic lupus at the outset, with the discoid rash as their main symptom.

Systemic lupus is usually more severe than discoid lupus, and can affect almost any organ or organ system of the body. For some people, only the skin and joints will be involved. In others, the joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, or other organs and/or tissues may be affected. Generally, no two people with systemic lupus will have identical symptoms. Systemic lupus may include periods in which few, if any, symptoms are evident ("remission") and other times when the disease becomes more active ("flare"). Most often when people mention "lupus," they are referring to the systemic form of the disease.

Drug-induced lupus occurs after the use of certain prescribed drugs. The symptoms of drug-induced lupus are similar to those of systemic lupus. The drugs most commonly connected with drug-induced lupus are hydralazine (used to treat high blood pressure or hypertension) and procainamide (used to treat irregular heart rhythms). Drug induced lupus is more common in men who are given these drugs more often. However, not everyone who takes these drugs will develop drug-induced lupus. Only about 4 percent of the people who take these drugs will develop the antibodies suggestive of lupus. Of those 4 percent, only an extremely small number will develop overt drug-induced lupus. The symptoms usually fade when the medications are discontinued.

In essence both conditions, alopecia and lupus, are auto-immune system malfunctions.