Alopecia Symptoms

What Is Alopecia?

Alopecia or alopecia areata refers to hair loss. But it isn’t just any hair loss. It is a result of your immune system attacking your hair follicles. Hair follicles are skin structures that create hair. This condition commonly affects the face and head [¹].

Types of Alopecia

There are different types of alopecia. All types cause varying amounts of hair loss. Here are some of them [²].

Alopecia Areata

This one appears as an oval or round patch on the scalp. It can also occur on other body parts that grow hair. In some cases, it can convert into the following:

Hair loss on the entire scalp

Hair loss on the entire body

Alopecia Areata Universalis

This type causes hair loss across the entire body. It can also affect the eyelashes and eyebrows.

Alopecia Areata Totalis

Alopecia totalis causes hair loss on the entire scalp.

Diffuse Alopecia Areata

This condition causes sudden thinning of the hair. It usually affects the scalp. Healthcare professionals may find it hard to diagnose it. This is because it looks very similar to other forms of hair loss. One such form is telogen effluvium.

Ophiasis Alopecia

This is a very rare type of alopecia. In this condition, hair loss occurs in a band along the back and sides of the head.

How Is Alopecia Diagnosed?

Doctors diagnose the condition in the following ways [³]:

Conducting a physical examination
Through examining your nails
By examining your hair follicle openings
By asking about your family and medical history

Alopecia Staging

Alopecia staging depends on the type of alopecia. Traditionally, there are seven stages of male pattern baldness [⁴].

Stage 1: There is no hairline recession. The hair loss is almost non-existent.

Stage 2: There’s minimal hair loss between the forehead and ears.

Stage 3: The hairline recession is deep. You may have a “U” or “M” shaped hairline.

Stage 4: There’s loss of hair on the crown. This is the area at the top of your head. The hairline recession is very deep.

Stage 5: This is when the bald spot connects to the hairline recession on the crown.

Stage 6: The hair between the crown and your temples is almost gone.

Stage 7: There’s no hair on the top of your head.

Is Alopecia Hereditary?

Having a close family member with the disease can put you at risk. But many people have no family histories. We can conclude that hereditary factors play a role in alopecia. This is because scientists have linked many genes to this disease. People with other conditions are also more likely to get alopecia. Some of those conditions include the following:

Vitiligo
Psoriasis
Thyroid
Allergies (hay fever)

Alopecia Symptoms

People don't experience many symptoms of alopecia. This is because the condition usually affects your hair.

What Are the Symptoms of Alopecia?

Alopecia affects hair and, in some cases, nails. Other than this, people don't experience many symptoms. If you notice the following, it may be time to go for a consultation:

Sudden loss of hair on the scalp
Development of more patches
Small patches join to form larger ones
Nail changes like pits and ridges

What Are Some Signs of Alopecia?

Some signs of alopecia are [⁵]:

A strip of bald skin on the scalp
Oral or round bald patches
Loss of eyelashes
Brittle and red nails
Hair loss occurring in the colder months
Hair growing in the bald spot but falling out in another area

Symptoms of Alopecia in Women vs Symptoms of Alopecia in Men*

Women experience broadening of the part in their hair. For men, hair begins receding at the forehead hairline. Receding hairline is also a common hair loss pattern for older women.

Overall, female pattern baldness is different from male pattern baldness. In the former, there is thinning, maintaining the normal hairline [⁶].

Women usually have this condition later in life. Men can experience it by age 35, according to the American Hair Loss Association [⁷].

For both women and men, the hair loss risk increases with age. But women experience it much later. They begin seeing the effects of hair loss after their menopause.

There are also specific health conditions playing a role in this disease in men and women. They factor into hair loss.

For example, women with polycystic ovary syndrome have androgenetic alopecia. Sometimes they also have additional symptoms like acne. Men with prostate cancer also have links to male pattern baldness. These conditions are linked with higher androgen levels.

Risk Factors for Alopecia

The following risk factors contribute to alopecia onset [⁸]:

Age
Stress levels
Family history
Poor nutrition
Medical conditions like lupus and diabetes
Weight loss

Alopecia Prevention

It’s important to understand that there are different causes of hair loss. This is why there are no standard steps to prevent it. But there are ways to minimize hair loss. Here are some of them:

Avoid extreme hairstyling that pulls your hair
Reduce your stress levels
Manage your thyroid disease or any conditions causing hair loss
Wear a cooling cap during chemotherapy
Eat a healthy diet. Consume enough proteins, calories, and iron.

Alopecia Prognosis and Treatment

There are different types of alopecia. Different types result in different patterns of baldness. So, the treatment and prognosis also differ. Generally, hair loss does not pose a medical risk. It’s important to seek emotional support when undergoing alopecia areata treatment.

Finding ways to cope and seeking support are the best ways to improve your prognosis. But it’s still not possible to predict the natural course of alopecia areata. Some people can achieve hair regrowth in a few years. But regrowth is only common with milder forms of hair loss [⁹].

Alopecia Survival Rate

Having alopecia does not expose you to any medical risks. There are no significant medical complications. Healthcare professionals only focus on the post-treatment hair regrowth rate for this condition.

Alopecia Treatment Options

Treatments for alopecia depend on your age. They also depend on the severity of your condition. These treatments could be therapies to improve the immune system. As a result, it stops attacking your hair follicles. Here are some popular alopecia treatment interventions.

Topical immunotherapy

Topical immunotherapy works well for the following:

Alopecia universalis
Alopecia totalis

The therapy involves applying chemicals to the scalp. These chemicals cause allergic reactions. They indirectly stimulate your immune system and aid hair growth. While it has its benefits, there are also certain side effects. There could be a severe and uncomfortable rash.

According to a 2010 study, this therapy can also cause [¹⁰]:

Eczema
Urticarial reaction
Blistering
Dermatitis
Cervical lymphadenopathy

Topical minoxidil

This topical treatment works best for mild alopecia areata. It is available over the counter. You can also apply it easily. But it only works when your follicle is not under attack by the immune system. If your follicle can produce hair, this treatment should work well for it. It encourages blood flow to the target area. As a result, it aids hair growth. The best part about it is that it doesn’t come with many side effects. But it doesn’t do much for severe hair loss. Using too much of it can cause:

Headaches
Chest pain
Weight gain
Irregular heartbeat

Topical Anthralin

This cream works well for mild alopecia areata. It was initially a treatment option for psoriasis. It is a scalp sensitizer that encourages hair growth.

Apply it once every day (according to your doctor’s advice) to stimulate hair growth. If this approach is successful, you’ll experience hair growth quickly. It’s also easy to use. But you might develop irritant dermatitis. You may also notice temporary discoloration on the skin and hair.

Corticosteroid Injections

These injections lower inflammation and boost immune system activity. They work well for mild alopecia areata. Doctors inject it into the hair loss site to encourage growth.

The biggest advantage of this treatment is that it encourages hair growth in less than a month. But they can cause side effects such as thinning of the scalp skin. Also, it may not prevent hair loss from occurring again.

Oral corticosteroids

Oral corticosteroids are not as effective as injections. They work well for:

Alopecia universalis
Alopecia totalis
Extensive alopecia areata

Oral corticosteroids suppress your immune system. They also control inflammation and encourage hair regrowth.

While they’re easy to consume, they also carry side effects. Some of them are:

Acne
High blood pressure
Muscle weakness
Stomach ulcers
Weight gain, etc.

There are many other treatments for alopecia. They all depend on your doctor's evaluation and recommendation.

Conclusion

Takeaway

Alopecia isn’t a life-threatening condition. But it can affect your confidence. Patches of baldness can affect any part of your body. They can also take a toll on your self-esteem. Timely interventions can improve your prognosis. In most cases, mild alopecia resolves after treatment. If it becomes severe, you may not witness many treatment benefits.