Alopecia Areata?
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Alopecia areata is a hair loss disorder that often strikes children. A study published in the December 2001 issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology suggests that future treatments could involve desensitizing the body's immune system to the substances that provoke the attack.
The researchers showed that in alopecia areata, white blood cells – part of the immune system – attack hair follicles, pockets of skin cells in which hair is rooted. The researchers showed that proteins produced by hair pigment-producing cells trigger the assault when the body mistakes molecules within the cells for foreign substances.
Alopecia areata commonly starts with one or more small, round, smooth, bald patches on the scalp, sometimes leading to complete hair loss in recurrent and unpredictable episodes, called alopecia totalis. In extreme cases, it can lead to complete body hair loss, alopecia universalis. It often begins in childhood, which can be psychologically devastating for its young victims. The condition strikes an estimated 1.7 percent of people, including 4 million in the United States, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF).
"Several treatments for alopecia areata exist, but none works well for the cases involving the most widespread hair loss," explained Dr. Vera H. Price, chairman of the board of NAAF. "We use various chemicals that modulate the immune system, but they're not specific enough. The most powerful treatments involve steroids, which can have significant side effects."
I don't know if I have this or not (trying to answer that for myself). My understanding is that something triggers the immune system to switch off certain hair folicles which results in a halt of the hair growth. This can be "turned back on" if you will, though no one knows what the trigger is. I found that www.naaf.org has good info. Try looking through the FAQs. They also have a "Kids Konnect" section.
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