Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes sudden hair loss in small, round patches on the scalp or other parts of the body.
Most people with alopecia areata are otherwise healthy, but unpredictable hair loss can be emotionally upsetting and take a toll on your self-esteem and confidence. Certain lifestyle changes and medical treatments might help.
There is no cure for alopecia areata, but certain lifestyle habits and medical treatments may help improve your condition and prevent further hair loss.
Manage Stress
Stress is one of the most common triggers of alopecia areata. Emotional stress can disrupt immune function and lead to inflammation around the hair follicles, potentially contributing to or worsening hair loss. While some stress is unavoidable, managing it in healthy ways can help protect both your emotional well-being and your hair.
Try adding stress-reducing habits to your daily routine, such as:
- Breathing exercises
- Meditation
- Regular physical activity, like walking or yoga
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Guided visualization
- A consistent routine that includes rest and sleep
- Boundaries to prevent being overwhelmed by work or social obligations
If you’re experiencing ongoing emotional stress, anxiety, or depression, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. Support groups for people with alopecia areata can also offer encouragement and practical tools for coping.
Practice Good Scalp Hygiene
Taking care of your scalp can help prevent additional hair loss and promote hair regrowth. You can try the following:
- Use gentle, fragrance-free shampoos and conditioners.
- Avoid harsh chemical treatments like hair dyes or bleaching.
- Let hair air-dry when possible. If you use heat tools, keep the temperature low.
- Skip tight hairstyles, such as ponytails or buns, that pull on your hair and scalp. Opt for loose hairstyles.
- Use styling tools, such as a wide-tooth comb or soft-bristled brush, that are gentle on hair.
- Protect your scalp from the sun by wearing a hat or using sunscreen.
Maintain a Well-Balanced Diet
A well-balanced diet supports immune health and provides your body with the essential nutrients it needs for hair growth. Certain vitamins and minerals—particularly vitamin D, zinc, and vitamin A—play an important role in immune function and may help reduce the severity or frequency of hair loss in people with alopecia areata.
Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods may help prevent hair loss and support hair regrowth. Focus on including:
- Fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats
- Protein from sources like beans, fish, tofu, eggs, and lean meats
- Foods rich in zinc, including oysters, beef, lentils, and pumpkin seeds
- Vitamin D-rich options like salmon, sardines, fortified dairy products, and eggs
If you struggle to get enough of specific nutrients through diet alone, talk to your healthcare provider about testing for nutritional deficiencies. They may recommend a daily multivitamin or dietary supplements to help meet your body’s nutritional needs.
Consider Hair Loss Treatment
Medical treatments can help slow or prevent hair loss and promote regrowth. A dermatologist, a doctor specialized in conditions of the skin, hair, and nails, can help you find the best option based on the severity and pattern of your hair loss. Common treatments include:
- Steroid injections: A dermatologist injects steroids directly into hairless patches to reduce inflammation around hair follicles and encourage regrowth.
- Topical steroids: Steroid creams, foams, gels, or ointments are applied to affected areas of the skin to calm inflammation and promote hair growth.
- Rogaine (minoxidil): Available as a topical solution or oral medication, Rogaine helps stimulate hair growth. It’s often used along with other treatments, such as steroid injections.
- Phototherapy: Also known as light therapy, phototherapy involves controlled exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light to suppress the immune response and promote hair regrowth.
- Contact immunotherapy: This involves applying a chemical to the affected area to trigger a mild allergic reaction, which may help “distract” the immune system from attacking hair follicles. Most people need weekly treatments to encourage hair regrowth.
- JAK inhibitors: These prescription medications block specific enzymes (a type of protein) involved in the immune response. Oral or topical JAK inhibitors may help regrow hair in people with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder, which means the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its hair follicles. This immune response causes inflammation that disrupts the hair growth cycle, leading to sudden hair loss.
The hair follicles usually remain alive and can start producing hair again, either on their own or with medical treatment. Alopecia areata usually follows a cyclical pattern. Hair may fall out over several weeks, grow back a few months later, and then fall out again. It can be unpredictable, making it challenging to predict when hair loss or regrowth may occur.
Symptoms
Alopecia areata symptoms can vary from person to person. The most common symptoms include:
- Round or oval patches of hair loss on the scalp, face, or body
- Tingling, itching, or burning in the affected areas, either before or after hair loss
- Nail changes, including ridges or pitting (dents)
- Thinning or total loss of eyelashes or eyebrows
Most people experience a few patches of hair loss, but depending on the type of alopecia areata you have, it’s possible to lose all the hair on your scalp or body.
Alopecia areata develops due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Your risk may be higher if you have a family history of alopecia or other autoimmune conditions. Specific triggers can cause hair loss to worsen or spread, including:
- Ongoing or intense emotional stress
- Viral infections, such as the Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, or “mono”)
- Hormonal changes, such as menopause
- Nutritional deficiencies, including low levels of vitamin D, iron, or zinc
- Exposure to certain chemicals or allergens
- Physical trauma, such as injuries or burns to the affected area
- Smoking
- Cold weather
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that usually causes patchy loss of hair. While it may not always be possible to entirely prevent it from spreading, managing stress, caring for your scalp, eating a nutrient-rich diet, and exploring treatment options with a dermatologist can help support hair growth, protect scalp health, and improve your overall well-being.
