Can you imagine a situation where your hair falls out because your body thinks your own hair follicles are the enemy? That's a real condition, and it's called alopecia, commonly known as baldness. Hair follicles are where the hair begins to grow, so if they are attacked, the hair falls out and sometimes ceases to grow back. Basically, there's a miscommunication among the immune system and the body ends up attacking itself. Anyone can develop alopecia, though it typically develops in individuals under the age of 20.
Alopecia is caused by an immune system disorder where the body gets confused and attacks itself. It's believed to be an inherited condition, so if one of your family members has it, there is a higher probability you may eventually develop symptoms as well. You're particularly at risk if any type of autoimmune disease runs in your family.
Alopecia is not to be confused with common hair loss. e.g when taking certain medicine or taking insulin, postpartum and rapid weight loss.
There are four different types of alopecia, classified based on how the hair falls out.
Alopecia areata is when hair loss occurs in patches. Many people will recover from this condition within a year. Alopecia areata may come back or lead to more severe hair loss.
Androgenic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women. In men, this condition is also known as male-pattern baldness. Hair is lost in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples. Over time, the hairline recedes to form a characteristic "M" shape. Hair also thins at the crown (near the top of the head), often progressing to partial or complete baldness. (Alopecia totalis). The pattern of hair loss in women differs from male-pattern baldness. In women, the hair becomes thinner all over the head, and the hairline does not recede. Androgenetic alopecia in women rarely leads to total baldness. Androgenetic alopecia in men has been associated with several other medical conditions including coronary heart disease enlargement of the prostate. Additionally, prostate cancer, disorders of insulin resistance (such as diabetes and obesity), and high blood pressure (hypertension) have been related to androgenetic alopecia. In women, this form of hair loss is associated with an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is characterized by a hormonal imbalance that can lead to irregular menstruation, acne, excess hair elsewhere on the body (hirsutism), and weight gain. This type of alopecia can be reversible but most of the time it is permanent depending on how the skin looks like.
- Telogen effluvium happens when hair sheds more than usual and leads to hair thinning. It can be caused by many things including certain medicines, injury, and physical or mental stress. It can also be caused by a change in hormones and poor nutrition. This type of alopecia is reversible by changing your diet, REDUCE STRESS and use NATURAL AND PROPER haircare products (NO CHEMICALS) otherwise it can be worse and lead to anagen effluvium.
- Anagen effluvium is caused by chemotherapy, radiation, and poisoning which can be permanent. You can use wigs or other techniques like hair micropigmentation.
Trichotillomania Scarring Alopecia
- Traumatic alopecia happens when chemicals, scarring, or tension on your scalp or hair follicles cause hair loss. Braids, chemically treated hair and trichotillomania are some examples. Trichotillomania is a behaviour disorder that causes a strong urge to pull out your hair. You have to be really careful with this type of alopecia, especially the scarring part. Because if you have a sickness or something causing the scarring on your scalp, and you use chemicals, it can affect your organs. Please do not play with this. If you have scarring alopecia. SEEK MEDICAL HELP.
- Traction Alopecia: This type falls under traumatic alopecia and it is the type of alopecia that presents itself either on the front or the back of your head. Nowhere else. This is a type of alopecia that you can cause YOURSELF. This type of alopecia comes especially with braids. When you have the tendency to think that the stiffer the braids, the better and longer it stays and can lead to this type of alopecia. We as black people are the race that puts every single thing on our hair, change hairstyles , put bunch of chemicals the most and that is why Traction alopecia is more common amongst our people. This type of alopecia is permanent.
- Tinea capitis is an example of alopecia that is caused by infection. Alopecia can be caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
- Alopecia mucinosa and alopecia neoplastica are examples of alopecia caused by cancer.
Alopecia totalis is when all of the hair on the scalp falls out. Solution is changing your diet and hair prosthesis or customised wigs
- Alopecia universalis is when all of the hair on the entire body falls out. Solution is same as alopecia totalis.
Luckily, the condition is not contagious, so you don't have to worry about spreading it to your friends.
Symptoms of Alopecia
As mentioned, baldness is the primary symptom of alopecia. The type of alopecia dictates what pattern of baldness takes place. It may happen in patches that vary over time, over the entire scalp, or over the entire body.
Symptoms vary from person to person, and hair loss may occur in stages. It may appear and then go away for awhile before appearing again a few months later. And, in some cases, the hair doesn't grow back at all. Some example of other symptoms alopecia includes:
- Burning, tingling, or itchiness on your scalp
- Hair that easily breaks
- Problems with your fingernails or toenails, such as notching or pitting
- Scales or flakes from the areas of hair loss
- Swelling and redness on your scalp.
How to treat alopecia .
Till today, nobody knows what exactly causes that your immune system attacks the hair follicle. Supposedly.
What you can do are the following:
- DO NOT PUT ANY CHEMICALS ON YOUR HAIR. e.g relaxer, texturizers, permanent colouring etc
- Do not sleep when you see your hair is suddenly falling or you experience some patches. Act immediately by treating it or seek professional help e.g an expert in hair loss and scalp issues, trichology or dermatologist.
- Have a healthy hair regimen and avoid washing your hair all the time.
- Use natural hair care products e.g herbs, oils and products that are designed to help with detox and scalp issues. Check our Haircare products. e.g the Roots Up Growth oil, Roots Up Daily, and Bald B Gone.
- Hold your hair in its natural texture.
- Eat healthy. I really stress on this. I found that people that stopped with diary foods and wheat and drink a lot of water, were able to grow back their hair.
- DO NOT STRESS! Physically and mentally.
- If you have someone in your family that has alopecia, especially parents, chances are that your might have it too. Try to avoid tough and stiff hairstyle to maintain your hair as long as possible. It is definitely possible.
Don’t play hair stylist at home. Please. Get your hair done by a professional, especially a person who is familiar with scalp issues. By not doing this you have a big chance of getting the consequences when hormonal changes takes place with age.
One thing I can tell you is that people who experience Alopecia is going through heavy emotions. These are people that got divorced, because of low self-esteem, people who tried to suicide and some of them carry that heavy burden alone. They don’t tell nobody, including their husbands. So if you see someone going through this process, DO NOT BULLY THEM or JOKE about it. This can seriously lead to suicide and you don’t want that on you!