Alopecia areata is a disease that mainly affects the scalp, resulting in hair loss overall or in some parts.
A Alopecia areata, which is also known as “naked”, is an autoimmune inflammatory disease, which is characterized by loss of hair from the scalp. But it can also affect other parts of the body, such as eyelashes, eyebrows and beard.
This disease can affect both men and women, affecting around 1% to 2% of the population. Its cause is not known exactly, but some factors are related to its appearance, such as: genetic predisposition, environment, and emotional problems.
Recently, the disease once again became a topic on the internet when former BBB Slovenia Marques shared on social media that she discovered the diagnosis of alopecia. However, she is not the only famous person to have the disease. Before that, actor Will Smith’s wife, Jada Smith, also raised the issue of alopecia.
Therefore, Today we will better understand what Alopecia areata is, symptoms, treatment and other famous diseases.
What is alopecia areata?
According to dermatologist Dr. Luann Lôbo, Alopecia areata is: “a very common disease, of an autoimmune nature, which targets hair follicles that are in the anagen phase, that is, the phase in which our hair is growing rapidly. When there is a genetic predisposition, the disease can be associated with environmental triggers, with a psychosomatic background, such as stress and depression, for example.”
Furthermore, the doctor reveals that Alopecia tends to appear before the age of 30, affecting both men and women of any ethnicity. This type of disease is very rare after the age of 50, but not impossible as it can occur in people of any age.
So, when it comes to hair loss itself, Dr. Luann explains that it can be asymptomatic, or accompanied by uncomfortable itching or burning in the affected area of the scalp.
Symptoms of alopecia areata
The symptoms of the disease are very specific and characteristicbased on hair loss in circles, which although it can appear on any part of the body with hair, is more common and intense on the head.
In this way, the affected area loses all its hair, and a round, whitish plaque is also observed on the scalp.
However, despite the absence of hair, it is still possible to notice that the hair follicles are not completely lost. Therefore, despite there being no defined cure, with appropriate treatment it is possible to reverse or improve the hair loss situation.
Subtypes
Generally, There are two types of the disease, characterized by the extent of the problem, which can range from mild to generalized.
Alopecia areata
Therefore, in the case of Alopecia areata, The areas of hair loss are well defined, circumscribed and spaced throughout the scalp or in just one region.
Alopecia areata universal
However, In rare cases, alopecia areata may progress and culminate in complete loss of hair and body hair. Therefore, characterizing the so-called Alopecia totalis, or Alopecia areata universal.
Treatment
The first step when noticing any of the symptoms of Alopecia areata is to see a dermatologist, who will determine the diagnosis. This can be done just by observing the scalp and hair defects.
With the diagnosis confirming the disease, it is time to decide with the dermatologist the ideal treatment for your case, which will depend on the degree of the disease. There are currently several treatments available for Alopecia areata, which include injections and ointments that are applied directly to the affected area to stimulate growth.
Then, the most common topical medications in this case include minoxidil, corticosteroids and anthralin. In fact, they can be associated with more aggressive options such as sensitizers (difencyprone) or methotrexate. In addition, injectable corticosteroids can also be part of the treatment, and be used in well-defined areas of the scalp or body.
As previously stated, The disease has no cure, but treatment aims to control the progression of the disease and hair loss, as well as reducing defects and preventing new ones from appearing.
Prevention
So, precisely because we don’t know exactly what the causes of the disease are, there is no way to prevent its onset. However, there are some things that a person with the disease can do to alleviate their symptoms:
- Information is everything, so the ideal is to become better informed about the disease to understand how it progresses.
- One of the ways to minimize hair loss is by using makeup.
- Depending on the severity of the disease, which can greatly affect self-esteem, wearing wigs, hats and headscarves can help a lot.
- In fact, as we know that emotional problems can be related to the onset of Alopecia, it is very important to control stress. This is because stress crises can result in critical periods of hair loss.
- Last but not least, although Alopecia is not a very serious disease, it can still affect your emotional state. Therefore, there are support groups to help deal with the problem and overcome the psychological damage.
Finally, it is important to emphasize that Alopecia areata is not a contagious disease.
Celebrities who suffer from alopecia
And to finish our article on Alopecia areata, let’s get to know some famous people who suffer from the disease:
Slovenia Marques
One of the most recent famous cases was the former BBB Slovenia who told on social media how she discovered she had the disease. In a series of stories on her profile, the girl who discovered it by chance:
“What about me who discovered out of nowhere that I have alopecia? I think it’s rush, anxiety… Luckily I have a lot of hair, so it doesn’t show. It’s crazy, I didn’t even know that existed. I found out when I was in the salon and the girl spoke and took a photo to show. It’s hair loss that you have. It’s bizarre! I’m glad I discovered this soon enough to deal with it.”revealed the influencer.
Jada Smith
The disease also affects actor Will Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett. In fact, Jada’s condition was what caused all that controversy involving Will Smith and comedian Chris Rock during the Oscar awards. At the time, Chris made a joke about Jada’s hairless appearance, which didn’t please Will at all, who even slapped Chris Rock in the face live for the whole world.
Ariana Grande
Singer Ariana Grande is another celebrity who suffers from Alopecia. However, in her case, excessive use of ponytail hairstyles caused her to develop traction alopecia.
Maraísa
Brazilian singer Maraísa, who is a duo with Maiara, also developed the same disease. She used social media to tell her followers about the problem. “I’m taking a break from the hair extensions because I suffer from androgenetic alopecia. I’m bald up here”she said.
Lucas Penteado
Another former BBB who has alopecia is actor Lucas Penteado. In fact, when he was in confinement, the boy had a spike in hair loss, which became very visible and caught the attention of viewers.
Nicolas Cage
In Hollywood, actor Nicolas Cage also suffers from the disease. However, one way to disguise the problem that he would have used would be a hair transplant. The information that the actor had undergone a transplant comes from the Daily Mail.
Naomi Campbell
Finally, one of the greatest models of all time, Naomi Campbell is also on the list of celebrities who suffer from alopecia. Just like Ariana Grande and Maraísa, in Naomi’s case the condition was caused by holding her hair too tight for long periods, characterizing traction alopecia.
READ MORE:
Bibliography:
- BISELLI, Larissa M.; ARRUDA, Lara F.; MAZZA, Maisa F. Diffuse alopecia areata and the autoantigen theory associated with melanogenesis. Surg Cosmet Dermatol. Vol 10. 3 ed; 272-275, 2018
- BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF DERMATOLOGY. Alopecia areata. Available at:
Sources: SBD Drauzio Tua Saúde Splash Metrópoles Gauchazh
