Alopecia Areata

Its not just the ageing and ill that can lose their hair. Hair is important, to both men and women alike. It is part of your personality and gives people an idea of what kind of person you are before you even meet them. But what if you were faced with a future with no hair at all? On any part of your body?

Alopecia Areata, a skin disease that occurs in both men and women, causes baldness on hair bearing skin, most commonly the scalp. Although the exact cause of the disease is unknown, research suggests it may be caused by an immune system abnormality where the body’s immune system will attack the hair follicles preventing new hair from growing normally. More than 20% of sufferers will have a relative with the disease. There is currently no cure or universally accepted treatment.

Not to be mistaken with regular balding or receding hairlines, Alopecia Areata affects about 2% of the Australian population and is considered to not be an uncommon disorder. It occurs in both genders, all races and can affect anyone of any age however it often begins in childhood, although rarely in children under the age of three.

The onset of Alopecia Areata is sudden, lifelong and can cause a great deal of distress for sufferers. Episodes of Alopecia Areata are unpredictable and can occur at any time, most commonly in patches on the scalp. In more severe cases, body hair may be lost. Most people with the disease will have some level of regrowth however this is also unpredictable. New hair is not always identical to the original hair colour and the texture may be different. Some people with Alopecia Areata may not show signs of regrowth for years and then suddenly hair will begin to grow again.

Most people with Alopecia Areata do not have any other significant health issues. In more severe cases, sufferers may have ridges in their nails and the nails will appear dull. Eczema, asthma or thyroid problems have been known to make people more susceptible to Alopecia Areata but this is extremely rare.

Hair loss can cause considerable distress in both men and women however the distress felt by women with Alopecia Areata is often more severe. Hair is considered a sign of beauty. Women with Alopecia Areata often feel far from beautiful, have self esteem issues, are self-conscious and may lack confidence. Documented coping mechanisms for Alopecia Areata are not readily available as research in this area is limited. Research into Alopecia Areata tends to be focussed on the disease itself rather than the underlying emotional issues experienced by sufferers. More focussed research on the psychological impact of Alopecia Areata will no doubt assist people with the disease to cope with the issues they face over the course of their lifetime.

Last year the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation Inc, founded in 2010, engaged the University of Victoria to conduct psychological studies on Alopecia Areata. A paper written by Jessica Martino on the impact of women’s self-esteem, their mood and how they cope with the disease identified the need for more research on how to provide effective psychological support.

The Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation Inc is the national body for the disease. With no Government funding, they support research into finding a cure, suitable treatments and provide support to those with Alopecia Areata and their families. They are establishing a number of support groups in communities throughout Australia to provide people with the disease the opportunity to interact with other sufferers and to raise awareness of Alopecia Areata. In addition to financial donations, they also accept donations of hair to support their Wigs for Kids Program.

If you have Alopecia Areata or know someone with the disease, please consider becoming a role model for others with the disease by sharing your story and experiences with the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation Inc. They currently have a “Share Your Story” competition that closes on 1 June 2014.