Alopecia areata - causes and signs of alopecia areata

According to the progression of the disease, the following stages are distinguished: active (accompanied by redness, swelling, itching of the skin), stationary (the skin surface is unchanged, complete absence of hair) and regressive (a mixed increase in colorless and pigmented hair is observed in the baldness area).

Depending on the affected area, the following forms are distinguished:

• Limited. A single or several rounded areas of damage are noted.

• Subtotal. Characterized by the absence of half of the hair on the head.
• Ophiasis. Pathological areas are localized in the marginal part of growth, exclusively on the back of the head or in the frontal-temporal zone.
• Total. Complete baldness.
• Universal. The loss progresses in several parts of the body at once: on the head, torso, limbs.

At the initial stage, the disease responds well to therapy until it is cured. In medicine, there are cases of self-healing, spontaneously occurring long-term remission and relapses of the pathological process.

Causes

The root causes of focal alopecia have not yet been fully studied. There are several opinions regarding the mechanism of development of this pathology among scientists, but each of them has both like-minded people and opponents.

The provoking effects are severe stress, infection, accompanied by high body temperature, physical injuries and worms.

The impetus for the development of the disease can be an autoimmune failure, as a result of which the body's immunity damages its own hair follicles, and a hereditary predisposition.

Symptoms

The main signs of this disease are hair loss on the head or other parts of the body where there is hair, recently formed bald spots, which are characterized by a red color. Affected people may experience changes in the nail plates.

The course of the disease is varied: foci arise without contributing symptoms, renewal of the hair can occur on its own for several months without treatment. The pathology can become chronic, be limited to a single case, or recur again after a while.

Diagnostics

First, the attending physician conducts a primary examination and listens to the patient's complaints. During the analysis, the duration of the bald spot formation and the presence of round lesions are determined. Family history determines a hereditary predisposition to the disease. The presence of broken hair in the affected area is determined; at the stage of regression, an increase in the number of colorless hairs can be seen.

The patient's nails are also examined.

Before prescribing treatment, the following may be performed: microscopic testing for the presence of pathogenic fungi, a biochemical blood test, determination of the level of cortisol and thyroid hormones in the blood.

Consultations with a trichologist and psychologist are mandatory.

Treatment

Spontaneous healing is possible over the course of several years or months. At the first signs of the disease, you must consult a dermatologist or trichologist.

For this disease, the following external treatment is carried out: non-specific irritants that stimulate blood flow, immunomodulators, vasodilators.

Glucocorticosteroids are administered into the affected area.

General tonic medications (multivitamins, vascular drugs) and non-drug treatment (photochemotherapy, stimulation of follicle growth in the bald area) are used.

In some cases, a consultation with a psychologist is required to help the patient overcome dissatisfaction with their appearance.

Prevention

It is necessary to properly care for the scalp and skin. Prevention includes the following measures: Do not use a hair dryer, wash with quality products at a temperature of 35 degrees.

Follow a proper diet, which should include foods rich in vitamins and carbohydrates. Eat foods containing proteins. Eliminate excessively sweet or fatty foods, preservatives, smoked foods and alcoholic beverages from your diet.

Avoid neuroses and severe emotional events.

At the initial signs of baldness, consult a specialist.