Social media and international websites were buzzing with the dispute that took place between international star Will Smith and fellow star Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony live, after Smith punched Chris when he mocked his wife Jada Smith’s haircut because of her hair loss after she had alopecia.
The seventh day presents all the symptoms, causes and methods of alopecia, according to my website.healthline” And” mayoclinic“.
What is alopecia disease?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss in the form of small patches that may not be noticeable at the beginning of the infection, until they become noticeable, and the condition develops when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, which leads to sudden hair loss.
Sudden hair loss may occur on the scalp, and in some cases, the eyebrows, eyelashes, and the face, as well as other parts of the body, and it can also develop slowly and recur years later between cases, and this condition can lead to complete hair loss, which is called alopecia universalis. And it can prevent hair from growing again, and when it grows back, it can fall out, and the extent of hair loss and regrowth varies from person to person..
There is no cure for alopecia areata, but there are treatments that may help hair grow faster and can prevent future hair loss.
What are the causes of alopecia areata?
Researchers do not know the exact cause of alopecia, but most people develop this disease if there is a genetic history of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. The similarity of the genes of these diseases with alopecia is one of the causes of infection.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that develops when the immune system mistaken healthy cells for foreign substances. The immune system usually defends your body against foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. If you suffer from alopecia areata, your immune system attacks By mistake, the hair follicles become smaller and stop producing hair, which leads to hair loss.
What are the symptoms of alopecia areata?
The most important symptom of alopecia is hair loss, and hair usually falls out in small spots on the scalp, these spots are often several centimeters or less..
Hair loss may also occur on other parts of the face, such as the eyebrows, eyelashes, and beard, as well as other parts of the body.
In rare cases, some people may experience more hair loss, and this is usually an indication of another type of alopecia, such as:
Alopecia total: hair loss on the entire scalp.
Alopecia universalis: It is hair loss all over the body.
What are the types of alopecia disease?
There are several types of alopecia areata, and each type is characterized by the extent of hair loss and other symptoms that the person suffers from, and these types are as follows:
Alopecia areata:
The main feature of this type of alopecia areata is one or more coin-sized patches of hair loss on the skin or body. If this condition expands, it may become alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis..
Total alopecia:
Alopecia totalis occurs when there is hair loss all over the scalp.
Global alopecia:
In addition to hair loss on the scalp, people with this type of alopecia areata also lose all facial hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. It is also possible to lose other body hair, including chest, back, and pubic hair..
Diffuse alopecia:
Diffuse alopecia can look a lot like female or male pattern hair loss and result in sudden and unexpected thinning of hair all over the scalp, not just in one area or patch.
How is alopecia diagnosed?
A doctor may be able to diagnose alopecia areata just by looking at the extent of hair loss and examining some hair samples under a microscope. The doctor may also perform a scalp biopsy to rule out other conditions that cause hair loss, including fungal infections such as tinea capitis during a scalp biopsy. head, your doctor will remove a small piece of skin from your scalp for analysis.
Blood tests may be done if other autoimmune conditions are suspected. The specific blood test that is done depends on the specific disorder the doctor suspects. However, the doctor will likely test for the presence of one or more abnormal antibodies. If these antibodies are found in your blood, it usually means you have an autoimmune disorder.
Other blood tests that can help rule out other conditions include:
C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate
iron levels
Antinuclear antibody test
thyroid hormones
Free and full testosterone
Luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormone
What are the ways to treat alopecia?
There is no known cure for alopecia areata, but there are treatments you can try that may be able to slow hair loss or help hair grow more quickly..
Topical immunotherapy is a technique in which a chemical is applied to the skin to provoke an allergic rash, which may lead to new hair growth within six months, but you will have to continue the treatment to maintain hair growth..
Steroid injections are a popular treatment option for patchy mild alopecia to help hair grow back on bald spots.
Oral treatments. Cortisone tablets are sometimes used to treat severe hair loss, but due to the potential for side effects, this option should be discussed with your doctor..
Oral immunosuppressants, such as methotrexate and cyclosporine, are another option you can try. They work by blocking the immune system’s response, but they cannot be used for a long period of time due to the risks of side effects, such as high blood pressure, liver and kidney damage, and an increased risk of serious infections and a type of cancer called lymphoma. .