September is a special month because it brings to light an autoimmune disease that is often not recognized: alopecia.

A person’s immune system is designed to protect you from disease and infection by attacking organisms and other invaders that cause disease. But if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks healthy cells. In the case of alopecia areata, the immune system actually attacks the hair follicle, causing the hair to fall out.

Some scientists suspect that genetics may contribute to the development of alopecia. There is no known cause for why someone might be diagnosed, except individuals that are diagnosed almost always have a familial history of an autoimmune disease (such as Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus). They also believe that certain environmental factors trigger alopecia in people that are genetically predisposed to the disease.

Types of Alopecia

ALOPECIA AREATA 

With alopecia areata, hair usually falls out in small round patches on the scalp. These patches are usually several centimeters or less.

ALOPECIA TOTALIS

Alpoecia totalis is total hair loss on the scalp.

ALOPECIA UNIVERSALIS 

Alopecia universalis is the loss of all hair, over the entire body.

How to Treat Alopecia

There is no known cure for alopecia. Even with treatment (steroid injections, corticosteroid creams, and ointments), hair doesn’t always grow back. While a person that has been diagnosed is otherwise healthy, it can cause emotional turmoil. At Refined Hair, we work to minimize the impacts of the emotional challenges that women that have been diagnosed face. We have a deep understanding of the emotional attachment women have with their hair and strive to give those that have lost their hair the confidence that was lost with it.

Schedule a FREE consultation today. We are here to help.