I have grown alopecia

Alopecia areata (synonym: krugovidnaya, or focal, alopecia, pelada) is characterized by the occurrence of rounded centers of baldness.

Patients with alopecia areata (HA) make up about 2% of dermatological patients. Men and women are equally susceptible to alopecia alopecia with a peak in incidence between the ages of 20 and 50.

[1]

Causes and pathogenesis

The causes of alopecia areata are not established. Alopecia areata is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome, in the play of which emotional stress, acute and chronic infections, physical trauma, genetic factors play a role. The genetic heterogeneity of this disease explains its clinical polymorphism, which is well-known to doctors.

Alopecia areata is considered as an organ-specific autoimmune disease, as evidenced by a genetic predisposition, an increased frequency of detection of organ-specific antibodies and a violation of the T-cell regulation of the immune response.

[2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]

Symptoms of alopecia areata

Symptoms of the disease begins with the sudden appearance of a round focus of alopecia without subjective sensations, only some patients note paresthesias. The boundaries of the focus are clear; the skin within it is not changed or slightly hyperemic, sometimes with a testovaty consistency and easier than healthy, gathers in folds; the mouth of the hair follicles saved. In a progressive stage, healthy-looking hair at the edges of the outbreak is easily epilated (a zone of loose hair); pathognomonic sign - the appearance of hair in the form of exclamation marks. This is club-shaped hair about 3 mm long, the distal end of which is split and thickened.

The further course of the disease is unpredictable. Sometimes hair growth in the outbreak is fully restored. New foci may appear, some of them may merge due to loss of hair separating them. Perhaps diffuse thinning hair without the formation of foci of baldness. The long existence of foci can lead to dystrophic changes and death of follicles.

The first foci more often occur on the scalp. Possible hair loss in the area of beard growth, loss of hair on the body, in the axillary and pubic areas. In many cases, eyebrows and eyelashes fall out. 10-66% of patients have a variety of nail dystrophy.

[8]

Classification of alopecia areata

A single classification of the disease does not exist. Depending on the area of the lesion, there are focal alopecia (one or several large, up to several centimeters in diameter, foci of alopecia), which, with an unfavorable course of the disease, can be overdone into subtotal, total and universal forms. Subtotal alopecia is diagnosed while maintaining small areas of hair growth on the scalp; total is characterized by the complete absence of hair on the scalp. Universal (malignant) alopecia is characterized by the absence of hair in all places of hair growth.

In addition to the forms of the disease, differing in the area of the lesion, three more types of alopecia areata are distinguished: ophiasis (serpentine form) - hair loss in the occipital region with the lesion spreading to the ears and temples; pinpoint (pseudo-syphilitic) - the occurrence of small (several millimeters) contiguous foci; ringworm - rounded foci of hair breaking.

Differential diagnostics is performed with cicatricial alopecia (pseudopelade), mycosis of the scalp, small-focal baldness in secondary syphilis, trichotillomania, artifactual diffuse alopecia, and alopecia in congenital dystrophies of the hair shaft.

[9], [10], [11], [12]

Treatment of alopecia areata

Until now, no safe medicinal product has been found that would relieve the patient from aloe alopecia for all and had a steady success in treating total and universal alopecia.

Torpid therapy and poor prognosis are possible under the following circumstances: family history of the disease, concomitant atopic condition, combination with autoimmune diseases, onset of the disease before puberty, frequent relapses, ofiasis, total and universal forms of alopecia alopecia, combination with severe dystrophic lesion of nail blades, loss of newly growing down hair.

Therapy should be comprehensive and individual. The purpose of treatment should be preceded by a thorough examination of the patient in order to identify and correct concomitant diseases and background disorders.

See also: Named the most effective remedies for hair loss

Means of external treatment

1. Glucocorticosteroid hormones (applications and introduction to the lesion).
2. Contact allergens - dinitrochlorobenzene, etc.
3. Irritants: hydroxyanthrone (dithranol, anthralin), on the counter of red pepper, badyag, juice of onions, garlic, horseradish, etc.
4. Means to stimulate hair growth.
5. Preparations of the placenta with photosensitizing effects: Melagenin-1, pylooactive meaagenin (antialopetsium).
6. Alternative medicine remedies, including a group of irritants already listed. Phytopreparations are becoming increasingly popular due to safety and availability.

[13], [14], [15], [16], [17]

General treatment of alopecia areata

Apply the means of basic therapy, aimed at the correction of associated diseases and background disorders detected in patients, and the means of pathogenetic therapy, have an immunosuppressive effect. A necessary addition to the complex therapy is physiotherapy.

[18], [19], [20]