What is Alopecia Areata (AA)?

The word Alopecia is borrowed from the Ancient Greek ἀλωπεκία (alōpekía, “fox-mange”), from ἀλώπηξ (alṓpēx, “fox”) + -ia, (a formative ending used in Ancient Greek, especially used in naming diseases) and the word ‘Areata’ that means ‘patches’. Alopecia Areata (AA) is a common, pathological, non-contagious autoimmune disease that is characterized by partial or complete hair loss. AA can affect any hairy area, such as the scalp, beards, eyelashes, eyebrows, or anywhere else on the body where hairs grow. Alopecia Areata (AA) affects approximately 1%-2% of the general population. Children and adolescents are most often affected and it is equally common in both sexes. The intensity of hair loss varies. It can start slowly or expand rapidly, just like the size of the affected area that can start as a small coin and extend with slow or fast rates.

The types are:

-Alopecia Totalis
-Alopecia Universalis
-The lesions that may cause pitting to the nails.

People with Alopecia Totalis lose all of the hair from their scalp. People with Alopecia Universalis lose all of the hair from their scalp and body. The changes in the nails may include splitting of the nails, roughness but also lines from the base to the tip of the nails. Usually the areas where the hairs are lost (plaques) are asymptomatic or show a slight itching or pain. These can be found in areas of hair loss and are short broken off hairs that are narrower closer to the scalp and therefore mimic an exclamation point. With the hair pull test, the hairs are easily detached and on their re-emergence some of them may be white.

Anthralin:

Anthralin is a form of topical immunomodulatory therapy that alters the skin’s immune function. Apply a thin layer of anthralin to only the affected area of the skin or scalp and rub in gently. Leave it on for 20-60 minutes and then rinse it well.

Minoxidil:

Minoxidil is used for hair loss in adults and children, with very good results for over 20 years. We usually use it together with topical corticosteroids or anthralin.

Topical Immunotherapy in the treatment of Alopecia Areata:

As Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease, it is recommended a topical immunotherapy with the contact allergens, Diphencyprone (DPCP)and Squaric Acid Dibutylester (SADBE)with proven efficacy. The most effective form of immunotherapy is topical sensitization with the contact allergens DPCP or SADBE. The method is safe and effective and it is used for over 30 years.

Growth Factors:

The Treatment of Alopecia Areata (Hair Loss) with Growth Factors is done in combination with other treatments to quickly maintain and strengthen the hair follicles, with very good results.