What Type of Autoimmune Diseases Can Cause Hair Loss, Hair Loss, or Thinning? I'll tell you

What Type of Autoimmune Diseases Can Cause Hair Loss, Hair Loss, or Thinning? I'll tell you

I sometimes get emails from people who have had a positive ANA (antinuclear antibody test) from blood tests or suspect that they have an autoimmune disease that has contributed to changes in their hair, including loss, hair loss, thinning, and changes in color and texture. In the following article, I will discuss some well-known and lesser-known autoimmune diseases that often cause hair changes or loss and explain how they commonly affect the hair and scalp.

Alopecia Areata (AA):When most people think of autoimmune hair loss, AA is usually the first thing that comes to mind. This condition is known to be the reason Princess Caroline of Monaco temporarily lost her hair. The condition most commonly occurs with hair loss, which is defined by round and patchy bald patches. Often the hair around the patches is completely normal, but the round, patchy areas are smooth and sometimes completely bald.

Another disease associated with AA is alopecia areata universalis. In this case, you often experience hair loss all over your body, including the entire head (often complete baldness), as well as other areas such as eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic hair, beard area, forearms, etc. Sometimes when this process is underway, you see “exclamation point hair”. These are hairs that have been broken off and tapered so that the closer you get to the scalp, the narrower they are. They flare up at the broken ends.

There is a lot of controversy about what AA actually causes. Most agree that it is autoimmune in nature, but some believe it is exacerbated by stress, allergies, or viruses. Treatment often involves oral steroids, corticosteroid injections, or experimental scalp stimulation with herbs such as rosemary and lavender.

Lupus and hair loss:Probably the second most common autoimmune disease known to cause hair problems is lupus or systemic lupus erythematosus. Often people with this condition are affected by a malar rash, which can affect the scalp and cause scarring that can lead to temporary or permanent hair loss. You may also see exclamation point hair with lupus.

Thyroid problems: Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis:Many people who think about thyroid problems and hair loss are aware of hypothyroidism, but many are unaware of autoimmune thyroid problems. The first of these is Graves' disease, in which hair generally becomes much finer and more severe loss occurs. The texture becomes much saggier and can no longer hold a style. The stands can also be brighter. The opposite is the case with Hashimoto. In this case, the hair becomes very coarse and dry, but hair loss still accelerates.

Lesser-known autoimmune diseases that can affect hair:In truth, almost any disorder that has an autoimmune component can affect hair or cause thinning, hair loss, or loss. These include things like rheumatoid arthritis, intestinal cystitis and fibromyalgia (although not everyone agrees that these two fall into this category), celiac disease and Guillain-Barre syndrome, to name a few.

Anti-inflammatory drugs and hair loss:Many of the medications given for these conditions are intended to reduce the inflammatory process, and this actually seems to suit the treatment of hair loss quite well, as there is almost always an inflammatory component. However, many of the commonly used steroids have the unfortunate side effect of increased dandruff or loss, often leaving the patient wondering if it is the disorder affecting their hair or the medications being used to treat it. It is often wise to focus on a healthy diet and healthy, natural ways to support a healthy scalp, reduce inflammation while stimulating healthy regrowth.

Inspired by Ava Alderman