It takes place if a faulty immune system attacks healthy hair follicles.
Alopecia universalis is a severe form ofalopecia areata, which causes patchy hair loss on your scalp and face.
Another form of this disease, calledalopecia totalis, causes total hair loss on your scalp.
Photo composite by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health; Getty Images
There is no cure for this disease.
While it can be hard to regrow lost hair, treatments can sometimes improve symptoms.
Some of the most hopeful treatments involve newer drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.
What Causes It?
The exact cause of alopecia universalis is unknown.
However, research indicates that it is likely anautoimmune disease.
In alopecia universalis, your immune system attacks and destroys healthyhair follicle structures, which results in hair loss.
People who have alopecia universalis have a change in theirgeneticmaterial.
However, alopecia universalis is considered a polygenic disease, meaning it is related to multiple genetic factors.
As a result, not everyone with the same genes will get the disease.
This suggests that forms of alopecia areata are not simply related to genetics.
Instead, they may occur due to a combination of inherited and environmental factors.
Factors that may contribute to the development of alopecia universalis include:
Alopecia universalis can affect anyone.
You have a higher risk of getting alopecia univeralis if you have a family member who has the disease.
Your risk is higher if that relative lost their hair before age 30.
The permanence of hair loss triggered by alopecia universalis varies by individual.
Hair regrowth that occurs spontaneously or with treatment is always possible because the hair follicle is not destroyed.
Despite hair loss, your hair follicles remain alive in alopecia universalis and all subtypes of alopecia areata.
While hair regrowth can happen after many years of severe or widespread hair loss, it is not common.
The chance of full hair regrowth and recovery in alopecia universalis is below 10%.
Treatment Options
Janus Kinase Inhibitors
JAK inhibitorsare immunomodulatory drugs, which modify your immune system.
They interfere with JAKs, which stimulate your immune cells and produce blood enzymes calledcytokines.
Overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines can trigger inflammation.
By curbing the production of JAKs, JAK inhibitors decrease the number of cytokines.
With fewer cytokines, inflammation is reduced, creating a more favorable environment for hair regrowth.
Clinical trials on two JAK inhibitors have demonstrated hair regrowth covering 80% or more on treated scalps.
Oral minoxidil is sometimes used off-label as an alternative to topical minoxidil.
Oral minoxidil has a low incidence of adverse effects.
This treatment involves using a very fine needle to inject steroids into the areas of missing hair.
It is the most common treatment for adults.
If there is no hair regrowth after six months, treatment should be discontinued.
Side effects can be injection site-related or treatment-related.
The treatment induces an inflammatory response to the applied area.
The success of this treatment for hair regrowth ranges from 17% to 75%.
Contact immunotherapy is administered in weekly treatments at your dermatologist’s office.
Clinical trial volunteers gain access to a potential new medication before it is available to the public.
This helps to ensure your safety as a volunteer as well as the integrity of the study results.
Research suggests this disease is linked to a faulty immune system attacking healthy hair follicles.
The success of new treatments like JAK inhibitors provides more options for people living with this disease.
Contact your healthcare provider or a dermatologist if you notice rapid hair loss in any area of your body.
Hair loss can signify other diseases that can become severe without treatment.
Getting the right diagnosis can help you address symptoms early for the best results.
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