alopecia areata what type of disease
However, other types of diseases can also cause hair to fall out in a similar pattern. Hair loss alone shouldn’t be used to diagnose alopecia areata. In rare cases, some people may experience more extensive hair loss. This is usually an indication of another type of alopecia, such as: For mild, patchy alopecia areata, in which less than 50% of the scalp hair is gone, cortisone may be injected locally into areas of bare skin. These injections are done with tiny needles, and repeated once a month. Topical solutions, creams and ointments may also help. Alopecia areata is a disease that causes hair to fall out in small patches. It develops when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. Sudden hair loss may occur on the scalp and other parts of the body. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune means that the body's immune system attacks the body. When alopecia areata develops, the body attacks its own hair follicles. A person's genetic makeup, combined with other factors, triggers this form of hair loss. 1 Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out in small, random patches. The hair loss usually affects the scalp, but it can also occur in other areas of the body.  The exact cause of alopecia areata isn’t known. Alopecia medicamentosa is characterized by widespread hair loss, most commonly of the scalp, caused by a reaction to various types of drugs in sensitive or allergic individuals. It may also be a result of chemotherapy used in treating various disorders (e.g., cancer). 1 The hair loss usually affects the scalp, but it can also occur in other areas of the body.  The exact cause of alopecia areata isn’t known. However, it most often occurs in people who have a family history of other autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. Hypotrichiasis (hypotrichosis, alopecia congenitalis, alopecia adnata, congenital alopecia, congenital baldness) is a condition characterized by the absence of hair at birth. This disorder is usually inherited as a dominant trait, but can also be due to a recessive gene. Alopecia neurotica is characterized by hair loss caused by injury to the nerves in the area where balding occurs. Postpartum alopecia is characterized by temporary loss of hair at the termination of a pregnancy. Loss of hair (alopecia) can occur from a wide variety of causes. Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of alopecia areata. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis: Trichotillomania, also known as hair pulling, is a neurotic habit that usually appears in children.
It is an autoimmune disease.