What is the cause and treatment of alopecia areata ?

Alopecia areata, also known as regional or coin hair loss, is the third most common type of hair loss after androgenic and telogen effluvium hair loss. According to medical statistics, the probability of a person suffering from coin hair loss during their lifetime is 2%, or in other words, 2 out of every 100 people suffer from this type of hair loss. It is not contagious and you will not get it through contact with anyone. Researchers believe that alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles instead of the bones and joints. The scientific cause of this attack is not clear.
Examination of different patients shows that lymphocytes, which are part of white blood cells and are responsible for fighting pathogens such as viruses and bacteria, attack the hair follicles and think that the hair follicles are a threat to health. is considered.

Some research shows that inflammation caused by infection or oxidative stress (free radicals) can cause this disease.
Inflammation in one part of the body is sometimes considered a danger to the immune system and causes an attack on that inflamed organ. If it attacks the nervous system, it causes MS, if it affects the joints and bones, rheumatoid arthritis, and if it affects the hair follicles, it causes alopecia areata.
In alopecia areata, inflammation occurs in the hair follicles and deep in the skin and is usually not visible, and most sufferers do not experience symptoms such as itching and redness of the skin except in special cases.
Medical scientists believe that free radicals play an important role in the development of this disease, when free radicals or oxygen free atoms are produced in the body too much, they cause inflammation in various organs, including the hair follicles.
For this reason, in most cases, a coin is injected at the site of hair loss to control hair loss, because corticosteroids suppress inflammation.
Men, women, and children of all ages may suffer from hair loss, which occurs in the form of circles or ovals and complete baldness in one or more areas of the head. In some people, it may affect all parts of the head.

The severity and extent of the disease is usually greater in children under the age of puberty than in adults. It is called Alopecia Universalis.
In some men, a coin drop is seen only in their beard.
Genetic factors also make some people more susceptible to alopecia areata. If a person in the family has the disease, it is possible for other family members to develop it because of similar genes.
A group of researchers believe that multiple factors cause the disease, such as genes, stress, viruses, chemical infections, nutrition and hormonal imbalances in the body.
Hair loss may occur suddenly or over a period of days in any area of ​​the head. Unlike other autoimmune diseases that cause irreparable damage to the affected organ, in alopecia areata the hair follicles are not completely destroyed and if the treatment is done in time, the hair will grow back.

Medical treatment of alopecia areata:
Medical treatment for regional hair loss is the topical use of corticosteroid creams. If the severity of the disease is high, the creams are ineffective and topical injections are performed in bald areas. This treatment is effective for most people, after stopping hair loss and with After a few weeks, your doctor will usually prescribe topical solutions such as minoxidil 2%, etc. to help hair grow.
People with coin loss may relapse after years of treatment, and factors such as high stress, poor nutrition, and exposure to chemical contaminants can cause the disease to return.

Important tips to help treat and prevent relapse:
For prevention, treatment, and hair regrowth, it is important that the patient take adequate amounts of vitamins and nutrients that have antioxidant properties.
Vitamins E, C, omega 3 fatty acids, selenium help reduce inflammation and the damaging effects of free radicals in the body. Most people with alopecia areata are deficient in these nutrients.
B vitamins (B complex), especially vitamins B12, B1, B6, help reduce and control stress, and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) and biotin help hair regrowth.
Some research shows that people with inflammatory diseases are more deficient in vitamin D than others, which is needed to regulate hormones, absorb calcium, and help the immune system function properly.
Ask your doctor to advise you on choosing and using supplements that contain these nutrients.