What Causes Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia areata is a group of hair loss diseases. There are three types of alopecia areata: alopecia areata (AA), alopecia totalis (AT), and alopecia universalis (AU). Each type has a different cause. AA is patchy hair loss, AU is a complete loss of hair on the scalp and AU is hair loss all over the body.

Hormones

• The most common amongst hormonal causes of alopecia areata is androgenic alopecia. Androgenic alopecia is better known as male-pattern hair loss. Hairs in this pattern are reliant on androgens (male hormone) for growth. Men with androgenic alopecia usually inherit this and women have this due to hormonal imbalances. According to Obgyn.net, 40 to 70 percent of women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome report this type of hair loss as they have an excess production of male hormone. The same is true of menopausal women who cease estrogen production altogether.

Trichotillomania

• Another form of hair loss associated with alopecia areata is trichotillomania. This is a self-inflicting form of hair loss, caused by the person twisting or pulling their hair from the scalp. Scientists aren't entirely sure what causes this, but they have classified it as a impulse disorder. Signs of trichotillomania include thinning hair loss in the area affected or a complete loss of hair in the area.

Traction

• Traction Alopecia is caused by hair being pulled too tightly. Hairstyles such as ponytails, braids or cornrows all cause traction to the hair. The one sign of traction alopecia is the thinning of hair starting from the hairline. In more severe cases, there is total hair loss from the area. Traction to the hair follicles can cause follicular damage. This damage stops new hair from growing.

Lupus

• According to Dr. April Chang-Miller M.D. of Mayo Clinic, 54 percent of lupus patients report hair loss at some point within the disease. In most cases the hair generally grows back on its own once the disease is treated. In other cases the hair loss is permanent and irreversible. This is due to a rash forming on the scalp called discoid. Discoid rashes cause scaring on the hair follicles, resulting in follicular damage.

Telogen effluvium (TE)

• Our hair has a specific cycle of shedding and re-growth. Resting hairs (telogen) are being prepared to move out in efforts for new hair to grow. At any point in time, 10 to 20 percent of our hair is in the resting stage, while 80 to 90 percent is actively growing. With TE, the cycle is disrupted, causing more hair than normal to go into resting or shedding stage. This can be caused by stress, a bout of severe illness or after having a baby. The later cause of TE is also known as postpartum alopecia.