When hair is lost across the entire body, it is called alopecia areata universalis (AU). Complete hair loss is called alopecia areata totalis (AT). Hair loss occurs quickly and can progress to total hair loss on the scalp. Hair loss can occur at any location, but it most commonly affects the follicles in the scalp and beard. People with AA have well-defined, often circular patches of hair loss with healthy-appearing skin. Other autoimmune conditions frequently occur in the same individuals with AA, including the skin condition vitiligo, thyroid gland inflammation, and anemia. This suggests there may be a genetic cause for some. Many children with AA have another family member who has also been diagnosed with alopecia. The immune response that underlies AA does not cause permanent damage to the hair bulb or follicle, and the hair can grow back. In the case of stress-induced hair loss, the hair shedding usually begins 2 to 4 months after the stressful event. Physical and emotional stressors can disrupt this protective mechanism and make the hair follicle vulnerable to attack. Under typical circumstances, hair follicles are protected from immune-system detection. Individual hairs grow from the hair bulb, which sits at the base of the hair follicle. Stressors Can Trigger AttacksĪlopecia areata is a hair-loss disorder caused by an autoimmune response, which means the body’s immune cells attack the hair bulb. Recent studies have demonstrated that Hispanic and Asian children are at an elevated risk of the condition, with a rate of occurrence two and three times more likely than average. More than half of the individuals with AA are diagnosed before age 20 years, and pediatric cases account for almost 20% of total AA cases. The overall incidence of AA has more than doubled in the past 10 years for unknown reasons. It can happen at any age, but it commonly occurs beginning in childhood. Alopecia areata (AA) is a type of hair loss caused by an autoimmune response in the body.
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