Alopecia Areata - Causes
Alopecia areata is a form of an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing the hair to fall off. The exact reason for this immune response is not known. However, there can be certain contributory factors and underlying medical conditions that may cause alopecia areata like:
- Genetics - one fifth individuals with patchy hair loss may have a family history of hair loss
- Hormonal imbalance
- Emotional/physical stress.
Alopecia areata can accompany other medical conditions like:
- Thyroditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland) - present in almost 20% people
- Atopic dermatitis (more commonly known as eczema)
- Diabetes. .
