Alopecia areata is considered to be a non-scarring, inflammatory hair disease that can occur in women, children and men. The condition differs from normal alopecia because hair normally begins to fall out in circular patches. With alopecia it falls out whenever it pleases and doesn’t seem to make a pattern of it. There is no particular part of the body where alopecia areata has to be found in order to be a serious condition. Many people however, do not pay the condition much attention until the hair begins to deplete on their scalps.
In order to understand alopecia areata and what you need to do if you ever come down with the condition, it would behoove you to understand the means by which your hair grows. There are three main phases in which your hair grows. The phases are the anagen phase, the catgen phase as well as the telogen phase. Alopecia areate begins to attack your hair when it is in the first phase of hair growth, which is the anagen phase. Inflammatory cells will begin to surround your hair follicles which will then cause them to fall out and stop producing hair in those certain spots.
Alopecia areata is common on the scalp, beard, and any other place that hair grows. Many people do not see the condition as a problem until the hair loss becomes apparent to others around them. Studies have shown that when your hair is in the anagen state that alopecia areata actually causes the follicles to fall back. The patch of skin that lies underneath the hair will become extremely irritated often times the skin will feel as if it is burning, hair growth will cease and you will notice instead of your hair growing out it begins to fall out.
Do not get alopecia areata confused with other conditions. There are many people that do suffer from this common condition, and they are able to live long and fulfilling lives. Remember hair is only one part of which you are the rest of who you are lies in your heart. There are different cures that doctors have tried to rid people of the condition. Keep in mind that curing the condition is based off of your own individual case; some of the cures are not designed to help everyone.
In some cases doctors will prescribe a cream that you can rub onto the bald spot in order to try to re-stimulate hair to start growing in the area that is now empty. You will be told to continue the regiment with the cream until you notice a difference. There are also medications that can be given as well as over the counter hair re-growth aides that can be used. There are solutions to your problem you just need to find out the best one that will work for you.