Alopecia Universalis
This particular type of Alopecia is the most severe and results in total hair loss across the entire body unlike Alopecia Areata and Alopecia Totalis which only affect the hair on the scalp. It is currently diagnosed as an autoimmune disorder however stress and genetic factors have also been linked to the condition.
Although it is a chronic dermatological disorder it is not life threatening and generally painful although there can be a certain degree of irritation of the skin in addition to physical problems resulting from the loss of eyelashes and eyebrows (i.e. irritation of the eye’s due to exposure to dust and dirt).
Autoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts (down to the sub-molecular levels) as self, which results in an immune response against its own cells and tissues.
Patients are usually no more unhealthy than any other person although incidences of thyroid disease and vitiligo are higher than the general population. It’s also worth noting that the National Alopecia Areata Foundation also states that nails can be affected and that effects can include anything from mild pinprick sized indentations to distortion of the entire nail.
In terms of how widespread this condition is, facts are varied. According to Wikipedia, Alopecia Universalis has an incidence of .001% (1 in 100,000) which is a vastly lower figure than quoted by Hunt and McHale for incidences of general Alopecia which they estimate has a life-time prevalenceof 1.7%,2
Alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis are estimated to account for 7% to 30% of all alopecia cases.
Notable sufferers include Matt Lucas from the Little Britain BBC comedy series, Pier Luigi Collina the FIFA soccer referee, Duncan Goodhew the former Olympic swimmer and Charlie Villanueva, a professional basketball player currently playing in the NBA.
Alopecia Universalis Treatments
At present there is no known cure for the three main types of Alopecia (Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis) and the outlook for those experiencing the most sudden hair loss is fairly gloomy. Although there are no standard treatments for Alopecia Universalis, Topical Immunotherapy, which involves producing an allergic reaction with irritants placed onto the skin and steriod (corticosteroids) injections into the scalp are used by dermatologists in a majority of cases.
The Emotional Impact of Alopecia Universalis
Undoubtedly the psychological impact of having this sudden and life changing hair loss condition is traumatic and many sufferer’s experience embarrassment over their appearance and problems in their relationships with family and friends. Support is absolutely vital in coming to terms with Alopecia Universalis and indeed regaining confidence and self esteem. Luckily there are many books on Alopecia, support groups and courses to help build confidence and self esteem.
Most of the research shows that people with alopecia have higher levels of anxiety and depression than controls. They also experience lower self esteem, poorer quality of life, and poorer body image.12 Those who lose eyebrows and eyelashes may also have problems with identity and identity change,13 as these features help to define a person’s face.
