Alopecia Hair Loss - Will Hair Grow Back?

by Mike Jones

Some authorities estimate that two out of a hundred suffer with alopecia hair loss in one of its forms. The hair loss can range from small bald patches on one end of the scale to hair loss on the scalp, or even total body hair loss on the other end of the scale.

This simple fact sheet answers the main questions people have regarding alopecia hair loss:

How can alopecia hair loss be defined?

For a start, let's make sure we can pronounce the word correctly. Al-oh-PEE-shah is how alopecia is pronounced, with the third syllable PEE getting most of the emphasis. Alopecia refers to "partial or complete hair loss." Often you see it called by it's proper title "Alopecia Areata" and additional words may be added to indicate the severity of the condition or the specific area that is affected.

Multilocularis: Bald spots on various parts of the head

Barbae: Bald patches only on the beard

Totalis: Hair loss affecting the head and scalp completely

Universalis: Total loss of all body hair

How does a person get Alopecia hair loss?

This condition is not limited to a particular segment of the population. It can affect males and females of all ages and races. Heredity can play a role it appears, as 20% of individuals with the condition have family members who suffer with alopecia hair loss.

The records indicate however that the majority of children who suffer with alopecia did not have parents who had the condition and on the other side, most of the parents with alopecia did not have children who suffered with the condition.

Alopecia hair loss is an autoimmune disease which can be triggered by a virus or some other agent in the environment causing the body's protective white blood cells to mistakenly attack the cells that grow in the hair follicle to make hair. The condition is not contagious!

The main question for many is: Will hair grow back again?

Everyone is different. There are various ways in which a person might be affected:

Even though their is regrowth, the hair may fall out later

The hair loss only affects a few patches, and then grows again for good

The hair may regrow but then fall out again repeating this cycle over a period of years

In the majority of cases, the hair that regrows is the same color as the hair that was lost

Occasionally, a person might find that the hair that regrows is whitish in color. Eventually however it returns to the color of the original hair

So what is the remedy for alopecia hair loss?

A variety of drugs are currently used which can have a positive effect on hair growth, although there is no ideal solution at this time. These include:

Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, is an FDA approved drug which helps combat pattern hair loss in men and women

Corticosteroids - strong drugs used to suppress the immune system

There are various ways of coping with the changes in appearance, depending of course on how severe alopecia hair loss is for an individual. These include using scarves, hats, jewelry, clothing, and cosmetics to camouflage the effects of alopecia hair loss. Additionally, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (alopeciaareata.com) has a network and message board system putting sufferers in touch with each other where they can exchange ideas and suggestions.

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For answers to frequently asked questions about Minoxidil-Rogaine, click here: Rogaine Minoxidil? Develop a strategy for dealing with premature hair loss. Click here: Alopecia Hair Loss

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