What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia Areata is a common condition that causes hair loss and can occur at any age. This condition causes scarless hair loss on the scalp. Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease that can affect any hair-bearing area and can present in a variety of ways.
It usually causes small, coin-sized, round bald patches on the scalp, but can also affect hair in other areas such as the beard, eyebrows, eyelashes, body and limbs.
It is estimated that about 0.2% of the world’s population is affected by Alopecia Areata at any given time.
Up to 5% of patients with Alopecia Areata may develop hair loss over the entire scalp (Alopecia Areata Totalis) and 1% may develop Alopecia Areata Universalis (loss of all body hair).
Alopecia Areata is an unpredictable condition and therefore no treatment may be appropriate for a subgroup of patients, as the spontaneous recovery rate ranges from 8% to 68%, depending on the severity of the disease. Management approaches should be determined.
What Causes Ringworm (Alopecia areata)?
Ringworm is defined as a condition in which hair such as hair, eyebrows, beard and eyelashes fall out rapidly. This condition is characterized by the appearance of round or oval balding areas on the scalp. Ringworm can be seen in both men and women, but it is more common in men and young people than in women. This condition, which affects the appearance of the person, can also cause psychological problems. It is recommended to start treatment as soon as possible to prevent loss of self-confidence.
Although the cause of ringworm is not known exactly, autoimmune causes are thought to be effective. The body perceives its own cells and tissues as foreign, which causes the immune system to attack these cells. If this attack is directed against the hair follicles, the hair stops growing and hair loss occurs. Ringworm is also reported to be an infectious disease.
According to other studies, ringworm is closely related to genetic factors. A child with a family history of ringworm is 3 to 6 times more likely to have this condition than normal. It has also been noted that ringworm may be associated with certain diseases and may support the influence of genetic factors. These include eczema, chronic inflammatory thyroid disease, psoriasis, vitiligo and lupus.
