Alopecia areata – the disease that causes spotty hair loss
The word “alopecia” is often misused as a collective term for several diseases that cause hair loss. In fact, alopecia is the medical word for hair loss. All people have alopecia because we all lose hair to some extent, it’s a normal part of the hair’s life cycle. Alopecia areata, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease whose symptom is that the patient’s hair follicles goe into hibernation, and then the hair loosens. The patient then becomes bald in this area. There are a number of treatments that you can try to get hair growth again: Anti-inflammatory steroids that induce a contact allergy, or PRP-treatment.
Alopecia areata – spotted hair loss
Alopecia areata mono causes spotted hair loss on the head, in the beard or on the body. The body’s own immune system attacks its own hair follicles. It makes them fall off. It is not uncommon to have multiple spots at the same time on the head.
Research has not yet been able to find out, what triggers alopecia areata, and there is currently no cure. However, it is possible benefit from PRP treatment. Most people who suffer from the disease, have it in their genetic code.
Alopecia Barbae - Spotted hair loss in beard
Alopecia areata barbae, also called alopecia barbae, is a type of alopecia areata mono that affects beards. It is an autoimmune disease in which one’s own body attacks the hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
This is characterized by small bald and round spots in the beard. The spots usually occur on the jawline, but you may lose all the beard.
Alopecia universalis – loss of all body hair
By alopecia areata universalis, the patient loses hair all over the body. It often starts with a stain in the hair on the head that may look like an alopecia areata mono spot, because it then suddenly turns, and the patient can then very quickly lose all hair on the body.
The patient loses hair in eyebrows, eyelashes, hair on legs, chest and arms. All hair falls off. When the hair in the eyelashes and eyebrows fall off, it causes a practical difficulty for the patient, because then there is nothing to prevent dirt and sweat from gettingr into the eyes.
Alopecia totalis - hair loss on the entire head
Alopecia areata totalis is when the disease manifests itself in the form of all or most of the hair falling off, on the head.
The disease can begin with minor spots on the head, or that the patient only loses hair on half the head, and then transitions to the patient loses all hair. It can be incremental, but it can also be very fast. Of the people who get tainted hair loss, 5% will develop alopecia totalis.
Alopecia areata treatment - what options are available?
Unfortunately, alopecia areata is incurable, but there are various methods that can be used to relieve hair loss. The good thing about alopecia areata is that hair follicles are often left under the skin and can then be treated with PRP.
We treat our alopecia area with Dermaroller and PRP treatment. The combination of Dermaroller and PRP creates a mild trauma to the skin. Once the trauma is created, the autoimmune disease focuses on the healing of the injury, and prevents the attack on the hair follicles. This, along with the positive effect of the growth factors in PRP, gives the hair a chance to start growing again. You can also use the Dermapen for similar results.
