What Causes Alopecia Areata and 6 Promising Treatments
You notice in the mirror that you are losing hair. It’s not necessarily thinning; instead, you are seeing small, round patches of hair suddenly go missing. You head to the internet, do some research, and find out you may have alopecia areata.
How do you respond? You might feel anger, embarrassment, anxiety, a sense of loss – or all of those emotions at once.
The next thing you research is “what causes alopecia areata?” and whether there are any effective alopecia areata treatments out there...
In this article, we will examine what alopecia areata is, what causes it, how to get a certified diagnosis, and a few proven alopecia areata treatments.
What is alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. While it presents as a unique experience for each person, there are certain treatments that can help, as well as ways to manage it. Please know that you are not alone and that there is hope.
Typically, alopecia causes female patients’ hair to fall out in small, round patches. In fact, ‘alopecia’ is the general Latin term for hair loss or baldness, while ‘areata’ means ‘patchy’. It is the second most common form of hair loss, behind female pattern baldness. Overall, it affects up to 7 million Americans, including children and adults.
Additional symptoms can include hair loss in other areas of the body and dents in your fingernails (known as ‘cupuliform depressions’).
Generally, it won’t affect your physical health, but it certainly can affect you socially and psychologically. If you find yourself struggling with the social and psychological aspects of alopecia areata, please speak with someone or find a support group. It is important to know that you do not have to face this alone.
What Causes Alopecia Areata to Develop?
Alopecia areata is a polygenic disorder, meaning it is influenced by multiple genetic factors. However, a genetic predisposition does not guarantee that you will struggle with hair loss. If you have a genetic disposition towards alopecia areata and a close blood relative who has experienced hair loss, you are then more likely to experience this kind of hair loss.
So what causes alopecia areata, exactly? We’ve already mentioned that it is an autoimmune disease; let’s look a little closer at this.
Alopecia areata starts presenting itself when your immune system, which helps to fight off harmful cells and diseases in your body, mistakes your healthy hair follicles for something dangerous – and then starts attacking them, causing your hair to fall out. Much remains unknown about why your immune system misreads the function of your hair follicles, but this is the reason for your hair loss.
We do know that what causes alopecia areata to develop is a trigger. This could be something that happens inside your body, like contracting a bacteria or a virus, or something external, such as stress.
One thing you don’t have to worry about is spreading alopecia areata. It is not contagious, and only the gene is transferable to your children (so they might develop it themselves, but they might not – that depends on lots of other genetic factors).
How Do You Confirm a Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata?
Once you recognize hair loss that you think might be caused by alopecia areata, you will want to contact either your primary care physician (PCP) or a dermatologist.
In your consultation with them, they will go through your medical and family history, do a physical exam of your scalp, and possibly look for dents in your nails.
If your doctor thinks you do in fact have alopecia areata, they could follow up with a visual check for infection, test your hair, perform a scalp biopsy, or order blood tests to assess thyroid function and iron and vitamin levels. With a clear diagnosis, they will then know how to move forward with your treatment.
6 Promising Alopecia Areata Treatments
Thankfully, there are a variety of alopecia areata treatments that could help to regrow your hair. Since alopecia areata can vary from person to person, it may take some time and trial and error to find the right option for you.
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Minoxidil
Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, is a topical hair treatment that widens blood vessels to stimulate hair growth. While you can get this over the counter, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor to determine if this is the best course of action for your specific situation.
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Corticosteroids
You might be wondering, “Can steroids cause alopecia areata?” While certain steroids can cause hair loss, the genetic nature of alopecia areata means that steroids are not what causes alopecia areata. In fact, corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications that can help reduce the inflammation associated with a flare-up.
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JAK inhibitor
A janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor is a newer type of medication that may help calm your overactive immune system, thereby encouraging hair regrowth.
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Topical immunotherapy
Topical immunotherapy involves a doctor rubbing an allergen onto your skin to provoke a mild, intentional allergic reaction. This can then create space for hair growth by diverting your body’s attack cells to the new threat (and away from your hair follicles).
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Platelet-rich plasma
Platelet-rich plasma involves drawing a sample of your blood, processing it, and injecting it into your scalp. This can generate new hair growth by increasing cell reproduction.
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Phototherapy
Why Use Wigs For Alopecia Areata?
Even if you now know more about what causes alopecia areata, plus a few promising medical treatments, your experience of hair loss could still take a toll on your self-esteem and leave you feeling less confident. Take hope, you have other options!
Covering your head, for example, is a perfectly acceptable way to regain some of your pizazz while you follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations or if your hair isn't regrowing. You could choose to wear hats, scarves, toppers, or wigs to cover your alopecia areata. Another option is to shave your head.
There is plenty of choice when it comes to toppers and wigs for alopecia areata. Toppers can combine with your existing hair to just cover the areas that need it. They are ideal if you only have a few spots of hair loss here and there. Most toppers are fully customizable, so they can seamlessly blend into your hair, allowing you to confidently step back out into the world.
Wigs for alopecia areata are able to cover your whole scalp if your hair loss from alopecia areata is a bit more widespread. Using a custom-designed wig lets you choose a natural look that matches your current hair texture, color, and style – or you could even pick something a little more daring and shake things up a bit.
Confidential Hair Consultations Are Our Speciality
Whichever option you choose, the team at Hair Enhancements of Pittsburgh is here to support you every step of the way. We offer a complimentary, confidential consultation, either in person or via a virtual call. At your first appointment, you can expect a welcoming space for us to get to know you, understand your hair loss experience, and discuss your unique hair requests.
We are committed to empowering women to return to a life of self-assurance, hope, and dignity. Many of our team members have also experienced hair loss, so we understand the anxiety, stress, and feeling of defeat that you might be feeling. We love being able to provide you not only with toppers or wigs for alopecia areata, but also with the knowledge of how to care for your new hair moving forward.
We are here to not only help you answer the question of what causes alopecia areata, but also to make sure you feel seen and heard. Book your confidential consultation today to learn more, regain your confidence, and find your perfect fit.