Monday, 10 August 2020

Definition of Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease, which is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks healthy cells in the body itself. This disease attacks the hair follicles. Hair follicles are structures where the hair will grow. This disease causes the hair follicles to become smaller and stop producing hair, initially causing hair loss to result in baldness if left untreated.

Risk Factors Alopecia Areata

Various risk factors of alopecia areata, among others:
The same history of illness on family members;
Age increase;
Other autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus erythematosus.
It has abnormal color, shape, texture, or thickness of nails.
Psychological problems, such as stress, depression, anxiety, or paranoid disorders.

Causes of Alopecia Areata

Autoimmune disorders are the cause of alopecia areata. There are several triggers of this disease, which can be caused by viruses, trauma, hormonal changes, physical pressure, or psychic distress. Other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or type 1 diabetes, are commonly often subjected to alopecia areata disease.

Symptoms of Alopecia Areata

Symptoms caused by alopecia areata, among others:

Pattern baldness is rounded in one or more places that have been overgrown by hair, which is temporary but can also be permanent.
Baldness that can extend to the whole of the scalp (alopecia totalis) and even throughout the body (alopecia universalis).
The disruption of the finger and toe nails, in the form of shape-changing nails, has a white stripe with a thin, rough surface, or split.
Baldness that can be accompanied by sensation of burning or itching on the scalp.

Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata

The doctor will diagnose alopecia areata by conducting medical interviews, physical examinations, and supporting examinations such as:

Analysis of the scalp samples by using a microscope in the laboratory, to ensure the cause of alopecia areata.
Blood screening if suspected of autoimmune diseases, to examine abnormal antibodies, levels of C-reactive proteins, iron, thyroid hormones, testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH).

Complications of Alopecia Areata

Some complications of alopecia areata, among others:

Baldness becomes permanent.
It has a greater risk of having a family with asthma, allergies, and other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease and vitiligo.
Psychological disorders are emotional disorders due to lost confidence, which can develop into depression.

Alopecia Areata Treatment

To date, suitable treatment to cure alopecia areata disease is still not found. The treatment given aims to stimulate hair growth to re-grow faster. Medicines provided by the doctor, among others:

Minoxidil to stimulate hair growth back.
Corticosteroids to suppress immune system.
Anthralin to affect the immune system of the skin.
Diphencyprone (DPCP) to divert the body's defense system.
Cream sunscreen and fake hair or hats to protect the scalp from sunlight.
False eyelashes and spectacles are useful to protect the eyes of alopecia areata from dust.

Prevention of Alopecia Areata

There are several preventive measures that can be done to prevent alopecia areata, among others:

Restrict the use of hair care devices that are at risk of damaging or making hair dry.
Restrict the use of chemicals to hair.

When to go to a doctor?

If you experience the above signs and symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately to find out the cause and get the right treatment. To perform the check-up, you can immediately make an appointment with your preferred doctor in the hospital.

Alopecia Areata can cause depression, really?

For women, who may also actually apply to men, the hair is a crown. In addition to protecting the scalp from the bright direct sunlight, hair can be arranged in such a way as to support the appearance while increasing confidence. That is why people with alopecia areata are prone to experiencing a depressive self-confidence crisis.

Alopecia Areata is a hair loss caused by the attack of the body's own immune system (autoimmune) against the follicle. This condition usually occurs on the scalp, although it can also occur in other parts of the body that are overgrown by hair, such as eyebrows, whiskers, and eyelashes. In addition to spherical patterned baldness, alopecia areata can also cause thorough baldness.

This disease can be illness by anyone, either male or female, in all ages. However, generally this condition is more experienced by people aged 20 years and under. Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease, which is when the body's immune system in charge of protecting the body from virus or bacterial attacks actually make mistakes by attacking the body itself.

In this case, the attacked is the hair follicle. As a result, hair follicles which is where hair growth becomes shrink and stop producing hair so that baldness occurs.

Characterized By Rounded Patterned Baldness

The main symptom indicated by alopecia areata is round patterned baldness. This baldness can occur in one or more places that have been overgrown by hair. Sometimes, new hair appears on the edge of the bald area. However, the hair shaft is thinner in its base, so it looks like an exclamation mark.

In some of the idlers, baldness can extend thoroughly to the scalp (alopecia totalis). Although rare, baldness may also occur throughout the body, leaving no single strand of hair (alopecia universalis). Sometimes, hair can grow back after a few months, but with a thinner texture and white color, it differs from the previous hair.

Triggering Self-Confidence Crisis to Depression

Alopecia Areata is not a disease that can result in serious conditions. Alopecia Areata also cannot be transmitted to other people and any bald hair can grow back by itself in a few months. However, in about 10 percent of the pengidap, baldness is occurring is permanent.

Alopecia Areata also has a greater risk of suffering or having a family with asthma, allergies, and other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid and vitiligo diseases.

Some alopecia areata can also be emotionally disturbed, as the thought of experiencing baldness makes itself uninteresting. This condition can lead to depression. Support from nearby people is important to help patients adapt to this condition.

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