Alopecia totalis is an autoimmune disease that causes entire scalp hair loss. Although the exact reason still remains unknown, it’s thought to be a result of the immune system mistakenly attacking the hair follicles.
Here are some takeaways and facts about alopecia totalis to provide you with a brief overview:
- ALOPECIA TOTAILS IS HAIR LOSS IN THE ENTIRE SCALP
- ALOPECIA TOTALIS IS NOT CONTAGIOUS
- GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ALOPECIA TOTALIS
- THE ESTIMATED ONSET OF ALOPECIA TOTALIS IS USUALLY BEFORE 30
🖋️ A study led by Dr. Tugba Kevser Uzuncakmak from 2020 found that among people with alopecia, 4.5% had alopecia totalis of which 39.5% were men and 60.5% were women. This shows that alopecia totalis in females is more common than in men.
What Is Alopecia Totalis?
Alopecia totalis (AT) can be defined as the loss of the entire scalp hair. It can sometimes be confused with other related alopecia types, especially with alopecia universalis (AU), which causes hair loss on the entire scalp and all body hair.
Is Alopecia Totalis An Autoimmune Disease?
Just like other alopecia types, alopecia totalis is also an autoimmune disease.
Since it is considered a type of autoimmune disease, it happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy body cells, including healthy hair cells and the hair follicles that are responsible for hair growth in this case.
Is Alopecia Totalis Hereditary?
Yes, our genetics and environmental factors influence alopecia totalis, meaning it is indeed hereditary.
According to research available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 1 in 5 people with alopecia totalis have a family history of alopecia. So, genetic predisposition is an important factor in the course of alopecia totalis.
Is Alopecia Totalis Contagious?
Alopecia totalis is not contagious as it’s a type of autoimmune disease. It is related to your immune system.
For such a condition to develop, there must also be some genetic influence and environmental factors such as excessive physical stress or emotional stress.
Does Alopecia Totalis Begin Later in Life?
Alopecia totalis can affect people of all ages. Alopecia totalis in children is highly rare.
Generally, alopecia totalis starts during the teenage years or twenties. However, its common onset is before the age of 30 regardless of gender. So, whether you’re a teenager or middle-aged, it is possible to experience alopecia totalis.
Is Dht Hormone in Alopecia Totalis?
No, the DHT hormone is not related to alopecia totalis since it’s an autoimmune disease.
It can be confusing because high levels of DHT can cause hair follicles to shrink and lead to hair loss conditions such as androgenetic alopecia (aka male pattern hair loss), and telogen effluvium (stress-caused hair loss).
Alopecia Totalis Stages
Alopecia totalis progression can be similar to symptoms of alopecia areata at first. However, for it to transition to alopecia totalis, hair loss should be more extreme than alopecia areata.
Let’s look at alopecia totalis stages to get a better understanding:
STAGES | SYMPTOMS |
INITIAL STAGE | SMALL/ROUND BALD PATCHES, HAIR THINNING |
PROGRESSION | INCREASED NUMBER OF BALD PATCHES, RAPID OR GRADUAL HAIR LOSS |
TOTAL HAIR LOSS | ENTIRE SCALP HAIR LOSS |
⚠️ Keep in mind that alopecia totalis can take several months to affect the entire scalp, or it can develop rapidly in just a few days or weeks. This depends on the person and unfortunately, the cause of this is not yet known.
Can Alopecia Areata Turn into Totalis?
Yes, Alopecia areata can turn into totalis. However, not everyone will go through this transition.
In a 2011 study by Prof. Rachita Dhurat, it was found that around 19% of people with alopecia areata develop a more severe form of alopecia such as alopecia totalis.
Furthermore, this transition often depends on several factors such as:
- GENETIC FACTORS
- PROBLEMS WITH THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
- SEVERE PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL STRESS
How Do You Know If Alopecia Areata Is Going to Lead to Alopecia Totalis?
If you already have alopecia areata and started experiencing different symptoms, your alopecia areata might have started turning into totalis. The most noticeable symptom is the increasing bald patches.
A few bald patches caused by areata will start to spread all over your head. Over time, hair thinning will also become more apparent and the hair loss will continue until all the hair on the entire scalp is lost.
What Are the Signs of Alopecia Totalis?
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of alopecia totalis is important to figure out if you are suffering from this condition.
If in doubt, you can start by identifying alopecia totalis symptoms such as:
- PROGRESSION OF BALD PATCHES
- TOTAL LOSS OF SCALP HAIR
- ITCHING, TINGLING SENSATION, OR DISCOMFORT ON THE SCALP
- PITTED, BRITTLE NAILS
What Are the Causes of Alopecia Totalis?
The exact cause of alopecia totalis is unknown, however, it is considered an autoimmune disease.
So, what causes alopecia totalis is the immune system unintentionally attacking healthy cells. However, the reason why the immune system attacks healthy cells remains unknown.
Alopecia totalis is, also, linked to genetic factors.
How Is Alopecia Totalis Diagnosed?
To figure out if you have alopecia, dermatologists or trichologists usually start doing a physical examination. Often, just by examining your hair and scalp, they can tell what type of hair loss you might be experiencing.
However, to be absolutely sure and get the most accurate diagnosis, they might suggest doing a scalp biopsy or running some blood tests.
This extra step helps them confirm whether it’s really alopecia totalis or something else that just looks similar.
How to Treat Alopecia Totalis
Unfortunately, there is currently no certain alopecia totalis cure. However, there are some available treatments for alopecia totalis that have proven to be helpful for alopecia totalis regrowth.
In fact, the alopecia totalis recovery rate is 8.5% according to a study conducted by Jordan Abbott, a dermatologist from The University of Texas Medical School. Some alopecia totalis treatments available are:
- CORTICOSTEROIDS
- TOPICAL IMMUNOTHERAPY
- DIPHENCYPRONE (DPCP)
- NARROWBAND ULTRAVIOLET B PHOTOTHERAPY (NB UVB)
- TOFACITINIB
The psychological impact of alopecia totalis can be devastating, so it’s important to talk to a professional for emotional support along with getting medical help.
Many people with totalis alopecia find comfort in wearing wigs and hairpieces or trying eyebrow microblading for alopecia totalis during their treatments. You can consider this option for a confidience boost and style.
Does Acupuncture Work for Alopecia Totalis?
It’s still under debate in the literature whether patients with alopecia totalis can benefit from laser acupuncture.
Several studies suggest this subject needs further exploration, so we can’t really say whether it works or not.
Until more specific research is done, it should be considered as a treatment that depends on the patient as to whether it works.
Does Homeopathic Treatment Work for Alopecia Totalis?
Although homeopathic treatment for alopecia totalis might be popular and patients who tried it might be content, there’s no scientific research to support that it actually works.
Since the efficacy of this treatment is not based on pharmacological activity, it’s not appropriate to suggest homeopathic treatment as a guaranteed remedy neither for totalis or for hair regrowth.
Does Aloe Vera Work for Alopecia Totalis?
Aloe vera doesn’t work for alopecia totalis. Even though it has soothing effects it won’t be useful for this condition.
🖋️ According to a 2008 study by Dr. Amar Surjushe, aloe vera increases the absorption of some steroid creams such as hydrocortisone. Unfortunately, such creams are also considered as not being very effective in the treatment of alopecia totalis.
What Supplements Can I Use for Alopecia Totalis?
For alopecia totalis, you can also take supplements to help with the treatment. However, supplements alone will not be enough to treat alopecia totalis.
So, if you’re considering using them, make sure you combine them with a treatment that fits your specific situation.
Here are a few supplements that might come in handy:
- VITAMIN D
- VITAMIN A
- VITAMIN B12
- ZINC
- BIOTIN (VITAMIN B7)
- TOCOTRIENOLS (VITAMIN E)
- OMEGA-3 AND OMEGA-6 COMBINATION
- BLACKCURRANT SEED OIL
- LYCOPENE
What Kind of a Diet Is Good for Alopecia Totalis?
A diet good for alopecia totalis can include a combination of various foods and supplements.
🖋️ In a 2020 study led by Dr. Cliff J. Harvey, an alopecia areata patient experienced hair regrowth after following a diet high in zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin D. They were also advised to eat natural foods rather than processed ones while avoiding gluten and dairy.
🖋️ Another study by Christine T. Pham found that a gluten-free diet helped 4.5% of alopecia totalis patients and a whopping 70.9% of those with alopecia areata.
These studies suggest that dietary plans showed positive results on alopecia areata, which might also be possible for alopecia totalis. However, we still need more solid data to be absolutely certain about its effectiveness.
Is Alopecia Totalis Treatment Possible With Ayurveda?
If you’re considering getting alopecia totalis treatment with Ayurveda, you’ll likely go through soothing massages and cleansings as a part of the process. Along with these, you’ll be advised with a diet filled with green leafy veggies, legumes, seeds, and nuts.
In short, Ayurvedic practices have a holistic approach to nourishing your body. While this treatment can be a relaxing and helpful option, it is important to remember that it will not be enough to treat alopecia totalis on its own.
Can I Get a Hair Transplant For Alopecia Totalis?
Unfortunately, hair transplant operations for alopecia totalis patients seem to be ineffective. The reason why it can’t work is that alopecia totalis is an autoimmune disease.
Already, there is no available donor because all the scalp hair has fallen out. So, even if a hair transplant could be performed, the immune system would attack these hairs and make them unable to attach to the follicles.
What Is The Difference Between Alopecia Totalis And Universalis?
The difference between alopecia totalis and universalis is that universalis causes hair loss both on the scalp and the entire body while totalis only happens on the scalp.
When we talk about “body hair,” we’re referring to all the hair on your body, including your eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, and hair in other areas.
Keep in mind that alopecia universalis is much more rare than alopecia totalis, affecting only 0,03% of the population.
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