What causes Alopecia Areata?
In Alopecia Areata round patches of hair loss appear suddenly. The hair loss is often discovered by a barber or hairdresser. The hair growing tissue stops making hair, and the hair then falls out from the roots. Why this happens is a mystery. Alopecia Areata is not contagious, is not caused by foods, nor the result of nervousness. It sometimes runs in families.
Alopecia Areata has three stages. First, there is sudden hair loss. Then the patches of hair loss may enlarge. Last, new hair grows back. This takes months - sometimes more than a year.
How is Alopecia Areata treated?
Hair usually grows back by itself, but slowly. Sometimes the new hair is temporarily gray or white, but after a while the original color usually returns. The natural re-growth of hair can often be speeded up by injecting a cortisone medicine into the area of hair loss. The cortisone is injected into the skin. It acts only in the area where it has been injected. Unfortunately, this does not prevent new areas of hair loss. However, if new areas of hair loss appear, re-growth may be helped by injecting the cortisone.
Alternatively, topical medications may also be utilized.