Alopecia - Types of Alopecia & Causes

Known to occur to people of different ages, Alopecia Areata (AA) refers to that type of hair loss which may occur on the head or any other part of the body. Also known as baldness, this term may also be used to refer to androgenic alopecia or pattern alopecia. This rare condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, where the hair growth begins.

While this type of hair loss is most common amongst people below the age of 20, it has also been found to affect children as well as adults. The early symptoms may include when clumps of hairs generally fall off. Often, this leaves behind smooth, round and hairless patches on the scalp. However, there may be certain times when the hairs drastically thins, leaving no noticeable bald patches. In other cases, the hairs may grow or even break off leaving behind short stubs. At times, complete loss of scalp as well as body hairs may occur. In fact, 10% of the people who are affected by this condition may never regrow hairs. There are also a number of factors which make the person far susceptible to developing this type of hair loss. Some of these causes of alopecia areata (AA) include having any autoimmune disease, facing extensive hair loss, the vulnerability to certain allergies (atopy), having a family history of this particular hair loss condition or even having abnormal colour, texture, thickness or shape of toenails and fingernails.

Diagnosing this particular type of hair loss often is done after a careful and thorough examination of the family's medical history as well as a physical and medical examination of the person. Very often in cases where the reason for the hair loss is unknown various tests are conducted such as a hairs analysis and different blood tests. The hairs analysis aims at examining a sample of the hairs. In addition, the doctor may also have a scalp sample to examine it. Different blood tests, such as testing for a specific condition such as underactive or overactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) are taken to identify the reason for the hair loss.

While the condition is not contagious, one of the main reasons that it occurs is because of the fact that it has affected other family members. Another large contributing factor is mental stress.

Some of the main types of alopecia areata include:

Alopecia areata monolocularis: This is one of the most common types of hair loss and is characterised by bald patches on the scalp. Hair loss generally occurs on the top of one's head (crown) as well as the crowns. It is known to effect men, women as well as children.Alopecia areata multilocularis: In this type of hair loss, multiple bald spots often occur, which may in fact worsen around the scalp and spread to other parts of the body. The sizes of these spots may differ and vary from one another.Alopecia totalis: This type of hair loss refers to the complete/total loss of hairs on the scalp. The causes are believed to be autoimmune and this is one of the most severe cases of baldness. It may occur both to men as well as women.Alopecia universalis: If there is rapid loss of hairs, which is inclusive of eyelashes as well as eyebrows the condition is known as alopecia universalis. Also known as alopecia areata universalis, this type of hair loss is the most severe form of alopecia areata that can occur to a person.Alopecia barbae: This type of hair loss is known to occur to men. Hair loss is observed in the beard area and many people who suffer from this type of hair loss may have small bald spots in the beard area.Traction alopecia: Hair loss occurs as a result of constant pulling of the hair. It may also occur due to the use of tying one's hairs very tightly such as tight ponytails, pigtails, etc. Baldness may occur on the temporal as well as frontal margins of the scalp.Non-scarred alopecia areata: In this type of alopecia, the hairs will thin but cause no specific scarring or prominent marks. It may include alopecia areata, male or female pattern baldness, trichotillomania and telogen effluvium.Scarred alopecia areata: Also known as cicatricial alopecia, this type of hair loss is known to affect 3 % of hair loss patients. Common to men as well as women, this type of hair loss may result in permanent or irreversible destruction to the hairs follicles. In turn the hairs gets replaced with scar tissues. There may be some cases where the hair loss is associated with burning, itching and pain.There are many different types of alopecia areata (AA). Some of them include Alopecia areata monolocularis, Alopecia areata multilocularis, Alopecia totalis, Alopecia universalis, Alopecia barbae, Traction alopecia, Non-scarred alopecia areata and Scarred alopecia areata. Rate this Article

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Nisha Parkar has published 7 articles. Article submitted on July 30, 2013. Word count: 768

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