Most people tend to classify hair loss as a male problem or condition. After all, the majority of hair loss treatment commercials are geared towards men, and certain drugs on the market are solely for men. While it’s natural to associate hair loss issues with members of the male persuasion, the reality is that hair loss affects women and even children as well. In the case of the latter, childhood hair loss is usually attributed to one of two things – a side effect from medication, or the result of an underlying disease.
Dr. Daniel McGrath is a hair restoration surgeon at McGrath Medical, a Texas establishment with offices in Austin and Dallas, and while he agrees that the majority of hair loss cases do present themselves in men, plenty of people out there suffer from a condition known as alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss on some or multiple areas of the body, particularly the scalp. Alopecia areata can occur in patients of all ages and genders, and it usually manifests in the form of bald patches on the head. Alopecia totalis, on the other hand, is a related condition that causes full scalp baldness.
Unfortunately, alopecia areata is somewhat puzzling in the eyes of the medical community. The cause of alopecia areata is still unknown, as no known factors might cause someone to be predisposed to it (though some evidence suggests that the disease might be hereditary). Additionally, currently no effective treatment options are on the market for alopecia areata. Some famous individuals who have experienced alopecia areata include aviator Charles Lindbergh, baseball slugger Roger Maris and boxer Mike Tyson.
So where does this leave people who happen to fall victim to this particular ailment? The good news is that the condition is often self-limiting and can eventually improve over time. A fair percentage of alopecia areata sufferers can expect their hair to grow back after a year’s time without any sort of treatment. However, in some instances, the condition can permanently halt hair growth.
Since no known medicinal or surgical remedy is available to treat alopecia areata, those suffering from the condition are usually best served by covering up its physical effects. These days, technology is able to produce wigs that can virtually mimic the real thing so that those suffering from alopecia areata or alopecia totalis can mask the problem without anyone else being the wiser. Unfortunately, these specialty hairpieces don’t tend to come cheap, and in the case of growing children, it can be difficult to procure the funds necessary to cover the cost of numerous replacement wigs in relatively short periods of time. For this reason, several charitable organizations collect human hair donations in order to provide free or low-cost hairpieces to individuals in need.
While alopecia areata isn’t life-threatening, it can certainly cause a fair degree of psychological distress. Those affected by alopecia areata – particularly children – are often subjected to a host of social and emotional problems as the result of an altered appearance. For this reason, many sufferers of alopecia areata require some form of counseling as part of the aesthetic-based treatment plan. Numerous support groups are also available to cater to those who don’t want to deal with the condition alone.
There’s no question that alopecia areata can be socially debilitating, and the fact that it often resolves itself over time tends to provide minimal comfort to those plagued by its noticeable effects. If you’ve been putting up with alopecia areata on your own, then know that resources are available to help through your difficult time. After all, just because your condition might be temporary doesn’t mean that you deserve to sit back and suffer in silence.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
