What causes alopecia areata? Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system mistakenly attacks a part of your body. When you have alopecia areata, cells in your immune system surround and attack your hair follicles (the part of your body that makes hair).
In alopecia areata, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation. Researchers do not fully understand what causes the immune attack on hair follicles, but they believe that both genetic and environmental (non-genetic) factors play a role.
Yes. Your immune system can impact hair growth, positively or negatively. There is a correlation. Healthy and active immune cells ensure hair regeneration, while defective immune cells can impair growth and trigger hair loss.
Ciclosporin. Ciclosporin is an oral treatment that suppresses the immune system. It is commonly used in several inflammatory skin conditions such as Psoriasis and Eczema. It comes in the form of capsules that are taken twice a day.
Alopecia areata (AA) occurs when the immune system attacks the hair follicle. Studies have shown a relationship between AA and low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D should be supplemented if levels are low.
Alopecia areata frequently occurs in association with other autoimmune disorders such as vitiligo, lichen planus, morphea, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, pemphigus foliaceus, atopic dermatitis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, endemic goiter, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, lupus erythematosus, diabetes ...
Vitamin D and zinc (and vitamin A) are critical to immune function and may provide an adjunct treatment option for AA. Insufficiency of these key micronutrients, whether primary or secondary to genetic polymorphisms, is linked to both the incidence and severity of AA.
Seeds and Nuts
Nuts and seeds also contain zinc, promoting hair health by increasing cell reproduction and improving immunity. Additional nutrients in seeds and nuts beneficial for hair include phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, and selenium. Hence, nuts and seeds are good food for hair growth and thickness.
Baricitinib helps regrow hair by preventing the body's immune system from attacking hair follicles.
Choose Calming Foods
Fruits and vegetables (aim for a broad rainbow of colors to get the most antioxidant variety), fish and fish oil, olive oil, ground flaxseeds, and spices like ginger, rosemary, basil and turmeric can all have a quieting effect on an overactive immune system.
Hair loss is common in people living with lupus. The autoimmune disease causes body-wide inflammation that attacks the joints and skin, including the scalp. This can result in hair loss (alopecia ). Lupus-related hair loss can occur slowly, causing hair to become noticeably thinner gradually.
Calcipotriol, a vitamin D analog, has been reported to be topically used in treating alopecia areata with promising results. Combination therapy of vitamin D analogs with corticosteroids might also be used in treating alopecia areata.
Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that causes inflammation around anagen-stage hair follicles. Insufficient levels of vitamin D have been implicated in a variety of autoimmune diseases.
Alopecia areata is a result of the immune system attacking hair follicles and stopping hair growth. Potential triggers include stress, a family history of the disorder or other autoimmune conditions, such as psoriasis or thyroid diseases.
Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging.
Alopecia areata is sometimes triggered by viral infections such as influenza that causes excess production of interferons (IFN). IFN- γ is one of the key factors that lead to the collapse of immune privilege.
Alopecia areata has also been considered an autoimmune disease similar to rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and can be associated with these conditions.
Although there is insufficient evidence to recommend universal screening for iron deficiency in patients with hair loss, iron deficiency is a frequent cause of alopecia [5].
Research published in the journal Annals of Dermatology has also found that zinc levels tend to lower in people with alopecia areata and telogen effluvium -- two common forms of hair loss. Several studies have also found that zinc supplementation may promote healthy hair growth for people with alopecia areata.
The disease is associated with increased risk of other autoimmune disorders (Table 2). Approximately, 12-16% of individuals with alopecia areata develop an autoimmune disease [29, 30].