Alopecia

Alopecia:

Alopecia areata is the abnormality of the skin that i chose to do my

reacearch paper on. Alopecia is a very intriguing autoimmune disease that

strickens many across the globe. With this disease, the immune system

misteriously attacks the hair folicles. The hair folicles are the point from which

hairs grow. This damage to the hair folicles can lead to hair loss on the scalp

and elswhere on the body. In the majority of cases seen, the hair falls out in

small, round patches nearly the size of a quarter. The disease normally only

effects a few patches of the skin. In very rare cases the hair loss can be very

extensive, causing widespread loss of hair throughout the head (alopecia areata

totalis), or the head, face ,and body (alopecia areata universalis). As was stated

before, the white blood cells of the immune system attack the cells in the hair

follicles that make hair. But the stem cells are not targeted, which means there

is possibility for the hair to grow back.

An estimated four million people in America are affected by this disorder

each year. It can affect people of any sex, age, or ethnic backround. The first

symptoms normally appear in childhood. This disease can be passed genetically

through families. Overall, one in five people with the disease have a family

member with it as well.

There is a good chance that the lost hair will regrow by itself. Some people

might have a few patches that fall out and come back, and then the symtoms

never reoccur. But some patients may suffer through loss, regrowth and again

many times. Even in cases where the person loses all of the hair on the body it

may still grow back. The hair sometimes comes back in white but it normally

turns back to its original color and texture. Overall the course of alopecia is

highly