You may get alopecia areata like a nightmare. Sometimes, after having shower and drying the hair you experience patch of baldness at the side or back of scalp. You even won’t come to know when this nightmare becomes the reality. It is quite common in many people and for others they don’t understand anything about it.
People consider the condition of baldness as alopecia but it refers to any hair loss. Moreover as per the expert male pattern baldness is like alopecia but when we discuss it becomes alopecia areata. Here in this blog, we have compiled some interesting facts about this most common hair problem.
- It is like friendly fire disease
Alike any autoimmune disease, it involves the immune system of the body which attacks healthy cells by mistake. At that time, natural defense of the body is not able to recognize hair as good. According to the experts there is no explanation why several people get autoimmune disease and some don’t. May be gene has the bigger role to play in it.
- It appears at any age
It possesses a tendency to appear at the time of childhood but it can take surface any time. Then, it will disappear for many decades. It is completely natural to develop it as a child and then treat it and again come back after 20 years.
- It is completely asymptomatic
Besides hair fall it never causes any other potential symptoms like irritation and headache. In case it takes place at back of head the patients cannot realise it until someone points it out to them.
- It has several forms
It can take classic form of non-scarring circle of hair loss in which the scalp appears healthy and smooth. Many times, it shows up as undulating baldness band refers to as ophiasis. However, it can affect any hairy spots of the body like underarms and eyebrows.
- Hair loss is temporary
Alopecia areata may experience you unnatural hair fall but it cannot damage the ability of the hair to re-grow like natural and age-oriented baldness. Basically immune cells come and surround the hair follicles that stop the re-growing of hair. After settling down the immune system the hair will start re-growing again.
- Stress is key culprit
Stress acts as fuel for the inflammation. Therefore, if you get alopecia areata then any autoimmune disease like stress can increase the issue of hair fall problem. Therefore, several stress-relief therapies including meditation and exercise will prevent or calm down hair loss problem because of alopecia areata.
- It is treatable
You can treat the issue by getting steroid shots at infected areas for resisting inflammation. You need to do this once in every 3-4 months to promote hair growth. In case, it spreads more then nonsteroidal immunosuppressant drugs and oral steroids will be given as treatment. Don’t worry as it never allows the hair to develop in abnormal places. It only releases the hair from its follicles by alleviating inflammation.
- It is associated to other conditions
Once you develop an autoimmune disease, you are more likely to get others. There is an interconnection in pathways of immune system that triggers by inflammation. So, if you have alopecia areata then doctor will recommend test for other autoimmune maladies like lupus, thyroid disease and so on.
- Lifestyle can make an outbreak
There are also many benefits of meditation. Having a diet full of added sugar or smoking and consuming alcohol results in inflammation to instigate alopecia areata episode.
- It cannot come back once goes away
Although there is a mere chance of relapse but it never returns once goes away. However, it is quite unpredictable and can burn out naturally.
So, now you come to know about it a lot whenever you face it consult with the dermatologist. However, you can wait for some days as it can subside down naturally sometimes. But before it becomes severe and spreads all over the scalp you need to treat as early as possible.
