What are the causes of alopecia areata?

Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
Updated on December 30, 2024
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The causes of alopecia areata are numerous, and the contributing factors may vary from person to person. Decreased immunity, frequent staying up late, anxiety, tension, poor mood, or long-term drinking and smoking, consuming spicy or strongly flavored foods, and lack of vitamins and trace elements, as well as local injuries, or frequent occurrences of folliculitis, abscesses, and cysts are all primary factors. Only a small number of cases may be related to genetics. Once diagnosed, it is essential to seek treatment from reputable medical institutions. Follicular tests can also be conducted to check for atrophy or necrosis. Generally, with persistent treatment, it is entirely curable.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Causes and Prevention of Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata can be caused by a variety of factors and can occur at any age. Generally, alopecia areata in children is mostly related to picky eating or an imbalanced diet, including excessive snacks. Among adolescents or middle-aged individuals, alopecia areata can be related to high stress levels, vigorous sebaceous gland activity, or the frequent consumption of spicy and stimulating foods. For middle-aged and elderly people, it could be related to other diseases within the body, such as liver or kidney disease. Therefore, it is important to foster good dietary and lifestyle habits, strengthen physical exercise to boost immunity, include more legumes in the diet, and regularly massage the scalp, all of which can serve as preventive and therapeutic measures.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Do alopecia areata follicles necrotize?

After the appearance of bald patches, they are mostly benign and there won't be any necrosis of the hair follicles. Hair follicle necrosis usually occurs in several situations, such as local trauma or previous folliculitis, and in cases of alopecia areata that have not been treated for a long time, where the cause of the disease has not been corrected, leading to follicle atrophy and eventually necrosis. Once hair follicle necrosis occurs, treatment becomes quite complicated, and some people may never fully recover. Once alopecia areata occurs, it is crucial to seek medical care from reputable medical institutions, undergo proper testing and treatment, avoid spicy and irritating foods, refrain from eating overly flavorful foods, avoid staying up late, and minimize anxiety and stress. Strengthening exercises and enhancing immunity, if consistently maintained, can still lead to recovery.

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Can alopecia areata cure itself?

Alopecia areata is characterized by patchy hair loss on the scalp, with most symptoms being mild. This is especially true for some children, who do not require special treatment after onset. Adjusting their diet or lifestyle, avoiding picky or unbalanced eating, and consuming more vegetables and fruits can lead to self-healing. However, if the area of alopecia areata is large or the symptoms are progressively worsening, with increasing patchy hair loss, formal treatment is then necessary. It can be helpful to check for trace elements to see if there are any deficiencies, or to visit the dermatology department of a formal hospital for a hair follicle test to check for any atrophy or necrosis. Subsequently, formal medication can be used for treatment, which can completely cure the condition ultimately. It is important to maintain a regular diet and lifestyle habits, avoid staying up late, anxiety, and stress, strengthen exercises, and enhance immunity, all of which can aid in treatment.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
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How long will it take for alopecia areata to fully recover once fuzz has started to grow?

Alopecia areata, once showing new fuzz, usually takes three to six months to return to normal. The appearance of fuzz indicates that the alopecia areata is in the recovery phase. In the early recovery stage, lighter-colored fuzz will grow in the area where hair was lost, and this fuzz will gradually turn into normal hair. During the active phase of alopecia areata, there will be noticeable hair loss, while in the dormant phase, the hair loss will stop. Three to four months after the dormant phase, most patients enter the recovery phase, reaching the stage where this small fuzz appears. Hence, the appearance of such fuzz signifies that the alopecia areata is nearing recovery, and new hair will grow during this phase. There are many causes of alopecia areata; it is important to avoid staying up late regularly.

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Can people with alopecia areata perm their hair?

After the symptoms of alopecia areata appear, try not to perm or dye your hair, or use hair gels or creams that are highly irritating. These can easily scald the scalp or irritate the hair follicles, affecting local blood circulation, leading to exacerbation of alopecia areata symptoms or increasing the difficulty of treatment. Once symptoms occur, be sure to seek treatment with standard medications at reputable medical institutions. Also, regulate your diet and lifestyle habits. Avoid spicy and heavily flavored foods, try not to stay up late, and avoid anxiety, tension, or bad moods. Persistent treatment is key to managing this condition. As long as the treatment is consistently followed for at least a three-month course, it can ultimately be completely cured.