Autoimmune alopecia

The appearance of hair and its structure are largely determined by genetics and care. When a number of malfunctions occur in the body, hair inevitably loses its attractiveness. Often internal problems lead to partial or complete hair loss. Autoimmune alopecia,  is a disease in which the hair root system is inhibited at the cellular level. Special “killer cells” (lymphocytes) destroy hair follicles, mistaking them for foreign bodies. Let’s consider this pathology, the causes of its occurrence, symptoms and other features. Let’s figure out how the disease is treated.

What is autoimmune alopecia and its main features

Autoimmune alopecia is patchy hair loss caused by hormonal changes and/or weakened immunity. Pathology usually develops spontaneously and immediately becomes the cause of not only psychological, but also physical discomfort.

If you do not carry out timely treatment, you can lose your hair permanently.

Causes of autoimmune alopecia

Autoimmune damage can occur for a number of reasons.

Among the main ones:

1. Diabetes.
2. Toxic diffuse goiter.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis.
4. Lupus erythematosus.
5. Chronic thyroiditis.

Alopecia can also develop under the influence of factors such as:

• increased iodine content in the body;
• bad ecology;
• exposure to aggressive occupational factors (work in chemical and other hazardous industries;
• lack or excess of nutrients (micro- and macroelements);
• chronic respiratory diseases;
• long-term depression;
• stress.

To determine the exact cause of the disease, a comprehensive diagnosis is necessary. Often, pathology occurs against the background of several disorders at once.

Symptoms

With autoimmune pathology, hair loss may not be its only symptom.

Patients also complain about:

• shortness of breath;
• increased sweating;
• tachycardia;
• high blood pressure.

People with the disease suffer from brittle nails and poor skin condition, sudden mood swings, and changes in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Women complain of irregular menstruation.

Important! Patients suspected of this pathology should consult a doctor when the first symptoms are detected. Only in this case can you quickly select the optimal course of treatment, carry it out and achieve a complete recovery.

Stages of alopecia

The following stages of the disease are distinguished:

1. Progressive. At this stage, hair falls out quickly. The areas of baldness gradually increase in size and merge into one.
2. Stationary. This stage is characterized by a stable state. The lesions may not change in size for a long time.
3. Regressive. In areas of baldness, vellus hair appears, which is gradually replaced by normal hair.

In complex forms, alopecia becomes resistant to treatment. Because of this, irreversible consequences occur with complete hair loss.

Diagnostics

First, a visual examination of the patient is performed. It allows you to determine the location of pathological foci, their number, and the general condition of the hair. Subsequently, the following instrumental examinations and laboratory diagnostics are carried out:

1. Microscopic studies.
2. Blood tests for trace elements.
3. Trichoscopy. This instrumental examination helps to assess the condition of hair follicles and shafts.

In some cases, a patient with a disease is advised not only by a trichologist, but also by an immunologist-allergist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist and other specialists of narrow profiles. This is due to the fact that hair problems can be caused by pathologies of internal organs, and without treating the underlying disease, it is impossible to get rid of alopecia.

Treatment

Treatment is always carried out comprehensively and individually. The choice of certain methods of therapy and their combination depends on factors such as the causes of the pathology, stages of balding, the age of the patient and his individual characteristics.

Basically, 2 main treatment regimens are used.

• Therapy for hair loss of less than 50% In this case, the patient is prescribed:
  • A special drug developed by biochemists at An-Tech Research Labs for the treatment of alopecia areata, the only one approved and registered by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, has been used by us since 2006 with 98% success.
  1. Multivitamin complexes. They are required to contain B vitamins.
  2. Preparations containing zinc.
  3. Corticosteroids. They are used both topically by applying to areas of baldness, and by subcutaneous injection.
• Therapy for loss of more than half of the hair. In this case, the following is used:
  • a drug developed by biochemists at An-Tech Research Labs. for the treatment of alopecia areata;
  • corticosteroids;
  • cytostatics;
  • special irritants.

The patient may also be recommended physical therapy and special salon procedures.

Among them:

1. Laser, magnetic or electromagnetic therapy. Electromagnetic therapy is aimed at suppressing pathogenic effects, while laser and magnetic therapy can restore the functions of the thyroid gland if they have been impaired.
2. Plasma therapy. The therapy is carried out by injecting the patient’s own plasma, which has undergone special treatment, into the areas of hair loss. It is used to stimulate new hair growth.
3. Mesotherapy. Therapy is carried out by injecting various nutrients (vitamins, microelements, etc.) under the skin. This helps strengthen hair follicles and regenerate them.

Additionally, during therapy you need to eat properly, excluding fatty, fried and starchy foods from your diet. Dairy and fermented milk products, fresh vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs will be useful. Doctors also recommend consuming as many products with gelatin as possible (aspic, jellied meat, fruit and other jellies) saturated with collagen. Patients are advised to take daily walks, adhere to a rest and work schedule, give up bad habits, and eliminate the risks of emotional stress. Avoid exposure to high temperatures on the surface of the scalp (direct sunlight, sauna)

Rehabilitation after alopecia is usually quite long. Therefore, we recommend that our patients undergo maintenance therapy approximately once a month. Even if several diseases that cause hair loss are detected, the patient can be helped!

Prevention

To date, no specific measures have been developed to prevent alopecia. This is due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to identify why and when it can begin to develop.

However, you can reduce the risk of developing many hair diseases. To do this you need:

1. Use only high-quality hair care products. It is advisable to give preference to those that have a safe composition.
2. Protect hair from ultraviolet radiation, cold and wind. To do this, you need to wear a hat at all times.
3. Promptly contact specialists in the presence of any pathological conditions and eliminate them.

Disease prognosis

If treatment is not started on time, then:

1. Areas without hair on the head will expand.
2. The chances of hair restoration will be no more than 10%.

Important! In rare cases, patients recover without treatment, but then relapses often occur.

The forecasts are influenced by factors such as the type of baldness nests, the spread of pathology, the duration of the pathological process, the presence of autoimmune diseases, etc.