What is alopecia areata?

Alopecia areata is a hair problem that has no gender or age specificity. It can be seen in either males or females irrespective of their age. Hair is lost at a particular area because of which patches are formed. This can be seen on any part of the body where there is hair growth. But then it is apparent only in case of the scalp. These patches may slowly result in the complete loss of the hair from the scalp. 1-3% of the population is the victim of this hair disease.

What effects does alopecia areata have on an individual?

Though alopecia areata is not a life threatening disease it may have a psychological effect on the victim. Baldness may lead to emotional disturbances and loss of self confidence. As a result, the victim finds it embarrassing to face the world. Alopecia areata can occur due to different causes. It can be treated with a specific treatment for a specific type of alopecia condition. This is the reason it is always better, and important to first ascertain the alopecia cause so that treatment can be rendered accordingly.

How does hair growth cycle occur?

Before knowing about alopecia areata, let us have a brief knowledge about hair’s growth cycle. Though the hair strand falls off, the hair follicle remains 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.

Why is hair lost because of alopecia areata?

During the anagen phase, the hair follicle is affected by the alopecia areata. As a result, the body’s immune system surrounds these hair follicles and inhibits them from producing the hair strands. As a result, the hair growth is stopped.

What are the causes of alopecia areata?

The different causes for its occurrence are mentioned below.

Genetic causes: Alopecia areata may be seen in an individual having of a family history of this disease. It is an inherited non contagious disease.

Most of the scientists believe that alopecia areata is a result of the failure of body’s own immune system. Hence, this disease is also termed as an autoimmune disease. The role of T-lymphocytes in the immune system is to destroy the infected cells of the body. It is believed that these T-lymphocytes act against the body’s follicular cells because of an autoimmune factor. As a result hair follicular cells are destroyed and hair is lost permanently.

Role of cytokines in alopecia areata:

Cytokines are glycoproteins that are necessary for creating innate and adaptive immune responses. These chemicals play a major role in cell signaling and communication. When a cell is infected, it releases cytokines into the surroundings to alert the immune system. After the cytokines are detected, T-lymphocytes attack that particular infected cell. Various studies have shown that these water soluble proteins (cytokines) play a major role in causing alopecia areata. They activate these lymphocytes against the follicular cells thereby destroying them.

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.

Apart from this, excess stress, irregular diet habits and exposure to pollution also causes alopecia areata.