Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is a distressing condition caused by an autoimmune disorder of the hair follicles.
Alopecia areata is a distressing condition caused by an autoimmune disorder of the hair follicles. Your body attacks your hair follicles causing hair loss in sharply defined areas of the scalp.
Alopecia areata starts suddenly. Hair loss then continues for days and weeks until all the hair from the affected area has been lost. The size of the affected patches may vary and be small to involvement of the entire scalp.
Alopicia aerata can affect any age but most commonly is seen between ages 15 years to 30 years.
Alopecia areata is associated with auto immune diseases including vitiligo and thyroid disease. Current evidence suggests that alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system that damages hair follicles. This particular abnormality leads to autoimmunity, a misguided immune system that tends to attack its own body. As a result, the immune system attacks particular tissues of the body. In alopecia areata, for unknown reasons, the body’s own immune system attacks the hair follicles and disrupts normal hair formation.
Biopsies of affected skin show immune lymphocytes penetrating into the hair bulb of the hair follicles. Alopecia areata is occasionally associated with other autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease, vitiligo, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.
The diagnosis or treatment of these diseases is unlikely to affect the course of alopecia areata. Sometimes, alopecia areata occurs within family members, suggesting a role of genes.
Alopicia Areata treatment : Successful treatment may be seen with local steroid injection which is administered at 4 to 6 weekly intervals. However, treatment is usually ongoing to maintain improvement and there is no cure. regrowth hair may be fine and non pigmented.
Price for consultation and first treatment with Dr Charlson is £250 subsequent treatments are £200 T: 07545371100 for appointment