Circular hair loss: When the immune system attacks the hair roots

Alopecia Area, circular hair loss, is the most common inflammatory hair loss disease. No matter what age it hits you: hair loss is often associated with shame, uncertainty and self -doubt. Because full hair corresponds to our ideas of a beauty ideal.

Alpoecia Area briefly explained

Alopecia Area is usually shown by clearly limited, round bare spots in the hair – especially on the scalp. In rarer cases, beards, eyebrows, eyelashes or other body hair are also affected. The hair loss on the edges of the affected areas is characteristic: there are often short, broken hair that becomes narrower towards the scalp. Colloquially, they are referred to as piston, comma or exclamation mark hair.

Some people only lose their pigmented, i.e. colored hair. The gray hair previously barely visible remain – which can give the impression that the person is grayed overnight.

Causes of circular hair loss

To date, it is unclear what exactly triggers the circular hair loss. These relationships are suspected:

• Misdirected autoimmune reaction as a trigger: Experts assume that circular hair loss can be attributed to an autoimmune reaction. The immune system is wrongly directed against the body’s own structures – in this case against the hair roots. The result: the defense cells attack the hair follicles, inflammation occurs and hair growth is disturbed. The hair finally fails in the affected areas.

• Genetic causes: Since circular hair loss occurs more frequently in some families, the suspicion suggests that genetic factors could also play a role. Experts therefore suspect that an inherited disposition can be jointly responsible.

• Stress and vitamin D deficiency: Some of those affected report that the beginning of their hair loss was preceded by a phase of strong emotional stress. Stress is therefore discussed as a possible but not only trigger.

• Also a Low vitamin D mirrorL is associated in individual studies with circular hair loss. However, whether stress and a lack of vitamin D actually play a causal role is controversial.

Which therapies promise success

In many affected people, the unusual hair grows back without therapy within one year. Treatment is not necessary in these cases. Otherwise, various therapy options are available that can help counteract alopecia areata. Above all:

• Cortisone -containing preparations: At the beginning of the treatment, an anti -inflammatory cortisone preparation is often used, which is applied directly to the affected skin areas. In order to be able to assess whether the therapy works, patience is required. The application should take place over at least three months. Only then does the inflammation usually decrease, the hair roots regenerate, and hair growth can be used again.

• Minoxidil solution: In addition to cortisone therapy, minoxidil can also be used – for example as a solution, spray or foam. The active ingredient should promote blood flow to the scalp and thereby stimulate hair growth. Minoxidil is available without a prescription and officially approved for hereditary hair loss – but not for Alopecia Area. Medical advice on the correct application and possible side effects is therefore highly recommended.

• Immunotherapy of skin: If cortisone therapy does not have any effect, so -called contact voice -hung therapy with diphenylcyclopropenone (DCP) can be considered in certain cases. The active ingredient is specifically applied to the affected areas of the scalp in order to trigger a controlled allergic reaction. The aim of this treatment is to « distract » the incorrectly guided immune system from the hair roots – so that the inflammatory processes can decrease and use hair growth again.

The treatment always depends on the individual needs of the person concerned. Because how strongly the loss of hair is perceived and what expectations of therapy success are very different – and significantly influences the decision for or against a specific form of therapy.