Is alopecia areata worrisome?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Minh Tuan - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Patchy hair loss is said to be an obsession of many people of all ages. Many times hair loss is often a sign of dangerous diseases. Alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system.

1. Patchy hair loss is a common disease

Alopecia areata is an acquired skin disease that can affect all areas of hairy skin and hair.
Characteristic of this disease is localized into areas of hair loss without scarring. Alopecia areata is sometimes associated with external or internal medical conditions.
This is a disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. The body's natural defenses didn't see hair as a part of the body, so it attacked.
Alopecia areata tends to appear in childhood but can sometimes occur at any age. Even hair loss can disappear in a child and reappear as an adult.

2. When is alopecia areata considered pathological?

If you do not know when you have pathological hair loss, some of the following symptoms will help you recognize this:
Loss of more than 100 hairs per day and the obvious manifestation is when washing or combing hair, hair loss clings into the comb more than usual. It falls off for a long time but does not regrow. Clusters of hair loss both when wet and when dry. Sparse hair is clearly visible on the scalp in women or patchy hair loss in men. The ingrown hairs are weak, thin, curly, or there is no hair growth at all.

3. What are the causes of hair loss?

Alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system. This particular abnormality leads to autoimmunity, which is a condition in which the immune system's malfunctioning tends to attack the body's own.
As a result, the immune system attacks specific tissues of the body. In alopecia areata, the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles and disrupts normal hair morphology.
Alopecia areata is sometimes associated with other autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease, vitiligo, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. In addition, stress is also classified as one of the causes of hair loss in patches. Sometimes, alopecia areata occurs in many family members, due to genetic factors.
Diet high in sugar, drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking can also cause inflammation and can lead to an episode of hair loss.

4. Alopecia areata and how to treat them

Currently, the most common treatment for alopecia areata is a corticosteroid injection into the scalp or skin. Besides, drugs such as: Minoxidil used with corticosteroids or anthralin ointment are also used in the treatment of hair loss.
However, these drugs can leave many unwanted side effects during treatment.
Therefore, many experts emphasize that in order to revive hair, it is necessary to protect and promote hair germ cells to grow according to the tripod mechanism, including: balancing male/female neuroendocrine systems, providing adequate nutrients and limit harmful factors on the hair.
For those who are elderly or have long-term baldness, it takes more time for the hair to recover, so it is necessary to persevere with the full course of treatment, combine with positive lifestyle adjustments such as reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and limiting smoking. , alcohol ... to bring the best effect to reduce hair loss, prevent baldness.
On the contrary, if you choose not to treat and wait for your hair to grow back, you can use up to:
Wigs. Wearing a wig by stitching or braiding a long wig to existing hair is not recommended as it can cause permanent hair loss. Use certain hair care products and styling techniques. Certain hair care or curling products can make your hair look thicker. Dyes can be used to dye the scalp. As a key area of ​​Vinmec Medical system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All are well-trained, professional, with a mind - range, understanding young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. Master. Doctor. Nguyen Minh Tuan has over 27 years of experience in the field of Pediatrics. Former Deputy General Department of Pediatrics - Da Nang Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital before becoming a Pediatrician at Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital as it is now
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SEE ALSO:
Causes and treatment of hair loss in children Why is hair loss so much? Excessive hair loss: When is the disease?