Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles and may be brought on by severe stress. Alopecia areata is an acquired skin disease that can affect all hair-bearing skin and is characterized by localized areas of non-scarring alopecia (hair loss). Alopecia areata is peculiar form of hair loss that usually affects the scalp but can occur on any hair-bearing skin. Alopecia areata produces one or more patches of balding without any obvious change in the texture of the affected skin, a non-scarring alopecia. Alopecia areata affects males and females. It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, in which hair follicles, are damaged by a misguided immune system. For most patients, the condition resolves without treatment within a year, but hair loss is sometimes permanent. Many treatments are known to aid in hair regrowth. Multiple treatments may be necessary, and none consistently work for all patients TREATMENT the most common form of treatment for alopecia areata — uses corticosteroids that are injected into bare patches of skin with a tiny needle. These injections are repeated about every four to six weeks and are usually given by our experienced dermatologist.