can you explain?
What is alopecia?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and other parts of the body. Some people experience this in small, patchy bald spots, while others lose hair on their bodies entirely. Hair can regrow at any time but may fall out again.
How many people have alopecia?
According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, "nearly 6.7 million people in the U.S. and 160 million worldwide have alopecia areata or have had, or will have it."
​
Per Harvard Health, "AA affects patients of all ethnicities and genders. It is one of the most common hair loss disorders. Most people who develop AA are younger than 30, but AA can occur at any age."
What are common treatments?
While there is currently no cure for alopecia areata, common treatments include cortisone injections and topical creams such as minoxidil, Anthralin or even squaric acid to stimulate hair regrowth. Lately there have been some advances with a JAK inhibitor used for eczema which has made some impact on hair regrowth. There may be additional treatments available that the author is not aware of at this time.