Alopecia Areata is identified as a certain type known as autoimmune diseases. An auto immune disease is caused by the attack of the body's immune system in a part of the body which deals with tissues as foreign, which in this case are hair follicles. Cytokines, a chemical known to be a part of the body's immune system, can contribute to the development of alopecia areata impeding the growth of hair follicles. This later leads to repression or interruption of the growth cycle of hair.
As with other autoimmune diseases, alopecia areata is linked to an increased risk of acquiring other autoimmune diseases and, specifically lupus erythematosus.
There are several ideas as to what exactly causes alopecia areata. The factor involving an individual's gene appears to be an important consideration for those who suffer from alopecia areata usually have other family members who have been affected too.
Research suggests that the combination of certain genes make some people more prone to develop alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata, a disease of hair loss, is neither painful nor contagious. Although there is no specific reason for the initiation and development of alopecia areata, there are factors in one's environment that can trigger the onset of the disease. These factors may be biological or emotional. Some common causes and risk factors of alopecia areata are emotional stress, family history and genetic predisposition to the acquisition of alopecia areata, chemicals and chromosomal disorders such as Down's syndrome.
People who have thyroid diseases, asthma, allergies and other autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, vitiligo, and rheumatoid arthritis are also at risk of developing alopecia areata.
Some other causes for the development of alopecia are as follows:
Pregnancy and childbirth can cause excessive hair loss. During pregnancy, a womanâ € ™ s hormone levels cause hair to grow at a very high rate, however, after giving birth, hormone levels return to normal and the hair goes into the resting phase of hair growth cycle, causing excessive hair loss. This hair loss is natural and can be corrected in due course.
- Diseases of the thyroid glands
Diseases of the thyroid, whether caused by a hyperactive or underactive thyroid gland can also contribute to hair loss. A good course of treatment may be undertaken to reverse this type of hair loss.
Medical treatments cause side effects including hair loss. The medicines used to treat diseases such as arthritis, depression, gout, hypertension, heart problems and have been known to cause hair loss in some patients.
The use of birth control pills can sometimes cause women to lose their hair, specifically those women who are more prone to hair loss (androgenic alopecia). Where, when taking birth control pills, there is thinning hair, a woman can switch to another type of pill for birth control.
Some infections such as ringworm scalp can lead to hair loss. Once these infections are treated, hair grows normally again.
Stress can trigger alopecia areata. The stressful events such as major surgery or high fever can trigger the onset of genetic hair loss, and for people who have already begun to lose their hair, any incident can lead to hair loss to increase.
Low-protein can cause the body to change the hair growth phase in the resting phase. If this happens due to low protein in the body, is expected to hair shedding will occur after a period of two to three months. The hair loss caused by the lack of protein can be reversed through proper diet and intake of the amount of protein.
An iron deficiency can cause hair loss, and is common in women during pregnancy and menstruation.
