Alopecia areata is an inflammatory disease that, in most cases, is mainly related to emotional and genetic factors.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. However, diseases of this nature are related to a condition in which the body itself attacks healthy cells. Basically, this is what happens with hair loss caused by alopecia areata.
When the scalp is inflamed and affected by alopecia areata, the strands will certainly lose life and fall out quickly. Generally, in specific locations on the head. There are cases where there is hair loss on other parts of the body as well.
What many people don’t know is that although alopecia areata does not have a specific cause, it mainly affects the patient’s emotional system. Therefore, in addition to the treatment for hair loss, which is basically recommended by a dermatologist. The patient also needs to be monitored by psychologists to restore their self-esteem.
Main causes
The main causes of this disease are related to environmental factors such as diseases, viruses, vaccines, stress, genetics, emotional factors, infectious conditions, among others. Above all, the most common cause has to do with the body’s self-defense, which reacts by killing healthy cells and ends up in the follicles.
Who can have alopecia?
Records of the disease among the Brazilian population are still low. However, research related to the subject highlights that only between 1% and 2% of the population may be affected by it. This includes men and women of any racial group and age.
There is an estimate by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD) that at least 5% of patients diagnosed with alopecia areata may lose all their body hair. And another statistic is that this disease affects young people under 20 years of age.
Symptoms
The main symptom is rapid hair loss. There are cases in which patients have reported burning and burning in the place where there is a greater concentration of hair loss.
Curiosity
An interesting fact about this disease is when the hair grows back, it is reborn with a white color and is thinner. However, over time they return to their normal texture and color.
Treatment
There are currently many treatments available for alopecia areata. The most recommended is what is recommended by the dermatologist. Therefore, avoiding self-medication to prevent the disease from progressing is highly advisable. However, the best known treatments are: ointments for local use and corticosteroids.
Certainly, treatments aim to control the disease and reduce failures. The medicines will stimulate the follicles to produce hair again. However, there are cases that are irreversible and only a dermatologist is able to identify the problem and prescribe the most appropriate treatment.
Prevention
Considering that the appearance of alopecia areata is related to emotional factors, avoiding being stressed may be interesting to avoid the problem.
How to live with alopecia areata
However, when efforts to alleviate stress are unable to prevent alopecia areata and you need to learn to live with it during treatment, wearing a wig, makeup or hat seem to be good options.
Is alopecia areata curable?
This will depend on how each organism will react. There are reports in medicine of total cure of the disease and progression of alopecia areata. The important thing is to take care of your emotions so as not to let alopecia areata cause other health problems.
Therefore, there are those who recommend treatment with a dermatologist combined with visits to a psychologist.
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Source: SBD, Drauzio, Minha Vida
Featured image: Drauzio
