Alopecia Areata

Also known as:  Alopaecia Areata;  Alopecia Partialis;  Area Baldness

Alopecia Areata is a type of Hair Loss (Baldness) characterized by the sudden appearance of a round or oval patch of non-scarring and painless Hair Loss with spontaneous remissions and exacerbations.  The area affected by the patches of Alopecia Areata usually remains, soft, smooth and totally devoid of Hair.  Alopecia Areata is characterized by a shift in the phases of the Hair Growth Cycle - many of the Hairs that would normally be in their Anagen (active growth) phase move prematurely into their Telogen (resting) phase.  The Hair Loss that normally occurs in Alopecia Areata is localized to specific patches of the Scalp and analysis (biopsy) of the base of the Hair Follicle reveals Inflammation.

 Alopecia Areata afflicts approximately 1% of the population at some stage of their life.

Hair Improvers

 Minoxidil(e.g. Rogaine applied topically) may stimulate Hair Growth and Hair Follicles in some Alopecia Areata patients.  ^[1]

 Viviscal is claimed (by its producers) to be an effective treatment for Alopecia Areata.  ^[2]

Hormones

 Thymosin (applied topically) is claimed (in unpublished clinical trials) to reverse some cases of Alopecia Areata. 

Minerals

 Copper Peptides (applied topically) may stimulate Hair Growth in Alopecia Areata patients (by inhibiting the Inflammation in the Scalp that is believed to cause Alopecia Areata).