Alopecia areata is a non- contagious hereditary disease. It causes no pain. But then, the permanent loss of hair may drive the person into depression. It may lead to emotional imbalances and loss of self- confidence. It is seen in about 1-3 % of the population. It may occur in both males and females irrespective of their age. Alopecia causes permanent hair loss in the form of patches. Hair may be lost from any part of the body. But, mostly it is known to affect the hair on the scalp. Sometimes, these patches may increase in size and cause total baldness.

Alopecia is caused because of different reasons. To treat the different types of hair loss conditions, it is important to render the right type of alopecia areata treatment. A brief idea about the hair growth is necessary to know how exactly alopecia attacks the hair growth.

Hair’s growth cycle:

Though the hair strands are dead and fall off, the hair follicles are very much alive and remain intact within the scalp. The hair strands are produced and lost within few days as a part of the hair’s growth cycle. Hair cycle occurs in three phases. The three phases of the hair cycle are Anagen, Catagen and Telogen.

Anagen phase: During the anagen phase, the hair strand is produced by the hair follicle that is present within the scalp. This phase is also called as active growth phase.

Catagen phase: During this phase, a regression is seen in the activity of the hair follicle.

Telogen phase: During this phase, the activity of the hair follicle is lost completely. The hair strand is shed off during this phase. This phase is also termed as the resting phase.

Causes of alopecia areata:

An individual may be a victim of this disease because of a familial history. Scientists consider alopecia to be hereditary. It is an autoimmune disease where the body’s own immune system fails to recognize the hair follicular cells. As a result, they are attacked by the T-lymphocytes and are inhibited from producing the hair strands. Cytokines, water soluble glycoproteins that are released during cell signaling are known to play a major part in causing alopecia areata.

Another hypothesis is that, some factors make all the hair follicles in a particular area enter the telogen phase on the permanent basis. As a result, the hair strands are shed off and do not appear again. Therefore, that particular area remains hairless.

Treatment for alopecia areata:

Treatment for alopecia areata varies for different age groups. It also differs depending on the extent of the disease. Treatment based on the age groups:

Adults: Treatment for adults is again divided based on the extent of the disease. Patients can be grouped into two categories based on this.

Patients with less than 50% hair loss

Under such conditions, patients need not start the treatment immediately. Sometimes, it is possible that the hair grows back in a span of time.

If no growth is seen, then the patients can opt for intralesional cortisone injections into the scalp, beard area, or eyebrow area.

They can also use 5% minoxidil solution.

Combination therapies like minoxidil and cortisone cream or minoxidil and anthralin are also effective in treating alopecia areata.

Topical immunotherapy is also a good option.

Patients with more than 50% hair loss

Topical immunotherapy with diphencyprone is the best available treatment for alopecia areata.

Other treatments include PUVA, combination therapies like minoxidil and cortisone cream or minoxidil and anthralin.

Usage of systemic steroids has also shown effective results in treating alopecia.

Children (<12): Treatment for children is simple. It includes

Usage of minoxidil solution.

Combinational therapies like Minoxidil and cortisone cream or minoxidil and anthralin

Most of the treatments for alopecia areata show delayed results.