Many organizations offer support to people living with AT and their families. It is typical for a person diagnosed with AT to experience emotions including sadness, depression, hopelessness, guilt, fear, isolation, loneliness, anger, and frustration. People who have received a diagnosis of alopecia may take many months to come to terms with it.

Hair loss can cause emotional issues, and many people who experience it feel they are losing a part of their identity. Most people with this severe form of alopecia find the available treatments do not work and opt to wear a wig. If it did, this could be fully or partially. If someone has had AT for more than 2 years, it is unlikely that their hair will grow back. However, the chances of alopecia areata resolving itself after it has progressed to AT are small. This can happen for no apparent reason and often years after the first symptoms appear. Sometimes, the immune system can stop attacking the hair follicles and hair may start to grow again. Share on Pinterest It is unlikely that AT will resolve itself, and there is currently no cure. The hope is that these drugs, which are used successfully to treat other autoimmune conditions, will turn off the inflammatory response thought to cause alopecia. These drugs contain particular proteins and are designed to dampen down the immune system. BiologicsĪ group of drugs called biologics is currently being tested for AT. It is a chemical that causes an allergic reaction, which in turn may stimulate hair growth. It is a topical treatment, meaning it is rubbed onto the scalp and is applied weekly in the hospital or clinic. Sometimes, doctors recommend short-term ‘ pulse steroid therapy.’ This includes a treatment called diphencyprone (DPCP), which is thought to benefit some people with AT. If they do work, they cannot be used long-term, as they have potentially dangerous side effects. CorticosteroidsĬorticosteroids, either as injections or pills, are a common treatment, though not often effective in AT. There is no cure, and the available treatments are not usually effective for severe forms of the condition, such as AT. Men and women are affected in equal numbers.Ībout 5 percent of children with alopecia areata will go on to develop AT. It is more common in people with other autoimmune conditions, such as an overactive thyroid or diabetes. Scientists believe having specific genes will make someone more susceptible to developing alopecia, meaning they are more likely to develop it if they come into contact with other factors, such as allergies, viruses, and toxins.ĪT can occur at any age, but it is more likely to affect teenagers and young people between 15 and 29 years old. This suggests there may be genetic factors at play in the development of the condition. In the past, the condition has been linked to stress, yet there is little evidence to support this.Īround 20 percent of people with AT have a family member who has alopecia. Researchers believe that the immune system mistakenly identifies hair follicles as a threat and attacks them. Though the cause is unknown, AT is thought to be an autoimmune condition - meaning it is caused by a faulty immune system. Share on Pinterest Alopecia totalis causes complete loss of hair from the scalp, and may be caused by a problem with the immune system.

Alopecia universalis vs alopecia areata