My Healthy Secrets Blog

Alopecia Areata is the medical term for losing patches of hair. Generally speaking losing patches of hair is a sign that something is wrong and you need to contact you doctor if you want to save your hair.

Hair loss is the normal symptom that exist with alopecia, including alopecia areata, alopecia universalis, and alopecia totalis.  Alopecia areata can cause patches of hair to fall out on the scalp.  Alopecia universalis can make you lose hair all over the scalp and body, and alopecia totalis will cause hair loss all over the scalp. 

There is no standard agreement on what causes alopecia, but alopecia areata has generated a host of complaints from people that have experienced it. Losing clumps of hair is a pretty scarry site.
If you are concerned about the amount of hair you are losing you should talk to your physician about it. The longer it takes you to make a decision the worse the problem is going to be to repair. Causes of alopecia are unknown, yet there is some evidence that it may be inherited.  About twenty percent or so of patients have a family history of hair loss.

If suspect you might have alopecia areata you should contact your doctor. More than likely, he or she will order some tests and maybe a skin biopsy. Your doctor will likely treat it with topical corticosteroids also, subcutaneous injections of steroids, and ultraviolet lights.  You may also consider some other treatments such as biotin supplements and a change in your eating habits to include healthier foods.  

If you notice a lot of hair on the shower floor or in the bathroom sink, check yourself for little bald patches on your scalp or eyebrows. If you have a beard you man notice clumps of wiskers on the sink when you finish brushing it. I a just saying that if you see a problem you should seek the advice of your physician, and the sooner the better.

Positive outcomes usually require treatment as early as possible, and if the hair loss occurs in children or goes on for a long time, the forecast is not always that good. Some cases even result in permanent hair loss.

If alopecia areata is caught in time and treated quickly you may can end up with a full re-growth of the hair that was lost. 

Usually the hair loss is caused by an underlying condition and the loss of hair is only a symptom that is caused by the underlying condition.