Alopecia

The articles in this section are about the more severe and sudden forms of Alopecia rather than male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). These include Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, Alopecia Universalis and Alopecia Mucinosa. The exact cause of these types of hair loss is still not known but generally medical opinion sees them as an autoimmune disorder. Other factors such as stress and genetics are also mentioned but research is limited at this stage.

Prevalence figures show that alopecia affects approximately 1.7 percent of the population, including more than 4 million people in the United States and with both men and women being equally affected. About 25% of patients have a family history of the disorder

(Bertolino, 2000).

The impact of living with sudden hair loss of any kind is huge and Alopecia can be associated with serious psychological consequences, particularly in relation to anxiety and depression. However as stated by Hunt and McHale little systematic research has examined the psychological effects of alopecia.

Help4Alopecia.com is dedicated to creating awareness of Alopecia and providing the key information and resources needed for Alopecia sufferer’s to rebuild confidence and self esteem.