What is Alopecia?

Alopecia.... What is it, who does it affect and how can I prevent it? We caught up with the team at M-A Hairdressing to get the lowdown on this hair loss condition…

What is Alopecia?

Alopecia is a general term for hair loss, but according to Alopecia UK, there are nine different types. The most common are androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes your hair to fall out, often in small clumps.

This condition presents in men, women and even children. Alopecia appears as rounded bald patches anywhere on the scalp and on some instances has been known on the body too. Alopecia often develops suddenly, even over the course of a few days. Unfortunately, there is no known cure but there is speculation to be linked to stress and hormones, yet it is unknown if this is what causes alopecia. The hair condition alopecia occurs when white blood cells attack hair follicle cells, causing them to shrink and dramatically slow down hair production.

What we do know is scientists are still unsure what causes the body’s immune system to target hair follicles and it seems that genetics do play a role. 1-in-5 people with the condition have a family member who has also developed similar issues.

Can you treat alopecia?

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for alopecia areata. Our NHS state that most hair loss does not need treatment and is temporary, or a normal part of getting older.

What celebrities have had alopecia?

To name a few there have been many. A-List celebrities that have suffered from hair loss include Jesy Nelson, Tyra Banks, Jemima Khan, Viola Davis, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Christina Millian.

Can you Help?

This is something our specialist team at M-A Salons deal with a lot, and we are very aware of how mentally tough and emotional this can be. If you are struggling with hair loss, please never feel alone. We welcome you into one of our luxury salons, our guest manager will locate one of our specialised team members to offer advice on both services and products to help address your condition.

If you would like to find out more please contact your local M-A Salon.