Alopecia Research Paper

Goal: Hair Loss Alopecia

Total Word Count in this Document: 954

Title: Hair Loss Alopecia

Everyone experiences some level of hair loss on a daily basis. In fact, losing up to 100 hairs a day is normal. However, excessive hair loss, clinically known as alopecia, can be a devastating condition for many women. Three types of alopecia exist. Let’s take a look at each of them in detail.

1. Autoimmune Conditions

Alopecia Areata

This autoimmune disease is caused by the body’s inability to recognize its own cells, resulting in the immune system thinking hair follicles are invaders and subsequently destroying them. You’ll experience hair loss from all areas of the body, but most commonly from the scalp. About 1.7% of people experience an instance

In the early stages, you’ll notice bald spots on the scalp. Rarely, in one to two percent of cases, the entire scalp is affected (alopecia totalis), or the entire epidermis (alopecia universalis).

Two types of alopecia areata exist:

- Scarring alopecia: Features fibrosis, inflammation, and a loss of hair follicles

- Nonscarring Alopecia: Hair shafts are gone, but the hair follicles exist, making this type reversible

Fortunately, in most cases, hair follicles remain alive and normal hair production can be restored, and can even occur without treatment at any time.

Causes of Alopecia Areata

It is an autoimmune disorder that results in hair growth being suppressed or stopped due to the immune system attacking hair follicles. It does occur more frequently in people with family members who also have the condition. Studies show the probability of a genetic factor, and there is an increased risk in people who have relatives with any type of autoimmune disease.

Alopecia Totalis

In rare instances, there is a total loss of all head hair. It is typically expressed in one of two ways: a sudden and complete loss of head hair, or a slower progression that starts as patchy alopecia areata and advances to total hair

However, there have been instances of complete restoration. Similar to alopecia areata, it is believed to be autoimmune and genetic with an unknown trigger.

Alopecia Universalis

This medical condition is an advanced form of alopecia areata. It’s a swift loss of all hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Otherwise healthy, alopecia universalis sufferer might be more likely to have thyroid disease and vitiligo. Those with AU are often born with hair, then quickly lose it.

Causes of Alopecia Universalis

Similar to the other types of alopecia, it is believed to be an autoimmune disorder that can occur at any age. About 20% of people with AU have a family member with alopecia, suggesting a genetic factor. It is an inherited as a recessive trait caused by a mutation in a gene.

2. Adrogyn Genetic-Mediated Conditions: Female-Pattern Hair Loss

Also known as androgenetic alopecia, it is the most common type of hair loss in women, and there is currently no known prevention.

Women dealing with female pattern hair loss (FPHL) experience thinning scalp hair due to increased hair shedding or a reduction in hair volume. Treating FPHL differs from the similar condition, chronic telogen effluvium, so it’s important to differentiate between the