PHYSIOTHERAPY IN

ALOPECIA AREATA
Presented by Group 6
CONTENT
• Introduction
• Definition
• Etiology
• Predisposing factors
• Alopecia and Gender
• Pathological Changes
• Clinical features
• Classification
• Prognosis
• Physiotherapy management
INTRODUCTION
Alopecia areata is a condition that causes hair to fall out in small
patches, which can be unnoticeable. These patches may connect,
however, and then become noticeable.
Sudden hair loss may occur on the scalp, and in some cases the
eyebrows, eyelashes, and face, as well as other parts of the body. It can
also develop slowly and recur after years between instances.
• The condition can result in total hair loss, called alopecia universalis,
and it can prevent hair from growing back. When hair does grow
back, it’s possible for the hair to fall out again. The extent of hair loss
and regrowth varies from person to person.
 DEFINITION
• Alopecia Areata is defined as premature loss of
hair. Some times leads to total loss of hair from
the body.
• Alopecia areata is a recurrent nonscarring type of
hair loss that can affect any hair-bearing area.
Clinically, alopecia areata can manifest many
different patterns.
ETIOLOGY
• The condition is thought to be an autoimmune disorder in which the
body attacks its own hair follicles and suppresses or stops hair growth.
There is evidence that T cell lymphocytes cluster around these
follicles, causing inflammation and subsequent hair loss. An unknown
environmental trigger such as emotional stress or a pathogen is
thought to combine with hereditary factors to cause the condition.
There are a few recorded cases of babies being born with congenital
alopecia areata; however, these are not cases of autoimmune disease
because an infant is born without a fully developed immune system.
PREDISPOSING FACTORS
• Age: Generally affects under 30 years of age.
• Poor health
• Genetics: It can be hereditary
• Anxiety and stress
• Fatigue.
• Sex: It affects both genders
ALOPECIA AREATA IN MALES
• Alopecia areata occurs in both men and women, but the loss of hair is
likely to be more significant in men. Men are also more likely to have
a family history of the hair loss condition.

• Men may experience hair loss in their facial hair, as well as their scalp,
chest, and back hair. Compared to male-pattern baldness, which is a
gradual thinning of hair all over, hair loss from this condition causes
patchy hair loss.
ALOPECIA AREATA IN FEMALES
• Females are more likely to develop alopecia areata than males, but
it’s not clear why. The hair loss can occur on the scalp, as well as the
eyebrows and lashes.

• Unlike female-pattern hair loss, which is a gradual thinning of hair that

covers a large area, alopecia areata may be confined to a small area.
The hair loss may occur all at once, too. The area can gradually
expand, which results in greater hair loss.
ALOPECIA AREATA IN CHILDREN
• Children can develop alopecia areata. In fact, most people with the
condition will experience their first hair loss before the age of 30.

• While there is some hereditary component to alopecia areata, parents

with the condition don’t always pass it on to a child. Likewise, children
with this type of hair loss may not have a parent who has it.

• In addition to the hair loss, children may experience nail defects, such
as pitting or lesions. Adults may experience this additional symptom,
too, but it’s more common in children.
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
• Hair becomes weak from root and comes out of follicle.

• Atrophy of hair follicle occurs.

• Sebaceous glands becomes inactive or less active.

CLINICAL FEATURES
• Insidious onset.

• Hair starts falling in clumps.

• White skin appears after the patches of hair falls.

• Baldness appears.
CLASSIFICATION
• ALOPECIA AREATA (patchy)
• Alopecia is the medical term for bald. Areata means
patchy. This patchy baldness can develop anywhere
on the body, including the scalp, beard area,
eyebrows, eyelashes, armpits, inside your nose, or
ears.
• The main characteristic of this type of alopecia
areata is one or more coin-sized patches of hair loss
on the skin or body. If this condition expands, it
may become alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis.
CLASSIFICATION
• ALOPECIA TOTALIS
• The person loses all hair on the scalp, so the scalp is completely
bald, and scalp hair loss is accompanied with loss of eye brows.
Alopecia totalis

• ALOPECIA UNIVERSALIS

• The person loses all hair, leaving the entire body hairless. This is
rare.

DIFFUSE ALOPECIA AREATA

• Diffuse alopecia areata may look a lot like female- or male-
pattern hair loss. It results in sudden and unexpected thinning
Diffuse alopecia areata
of hair all over the scalp, not in just one area or patch.
 CLASSIFICATION
OPHIASIS ALOPECIA
• Hair loss that follows a band along the sides and
lower back of the scalp.
Ophiasis pattern of alopecia areata

• RETICULAR ALOPECIA
• Hair loss is more extensive and the patches coalesce

• SISAIPHO (ophiasis spelled backwards) ALOPECIA

• Hair loss spares the sides and back of the head
Sisaipho pattern of alopecia areata
PROGNOSIS

• Growth of fine hair may be seen within two months. Majority of

patients recover within a year. Sometimes patient may not recover.
The new hair which appears can be pigmented, different from normal
hair.
PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT
AIMS
To improve general health
To improve nutrition to hair follicles
MEANS
To improve general health UVR treatment + Theraktin are given. Sub-erythema or
doses of E1 are given for 5-8 minutes daily.
Individual patches are treated by E2 and E3 doses of of UVR and Kromayer, twice a
week.
• Treatment should be continued for 2-3 months, and as the hair starts growing UVR
must be stopped to that area. This should not be confused with balding. Sympathy
and understanding is important in these cases.
PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT

• Corticosteroids.
• Topical immunotherapy.
• Minoxidil (Rogaine).
HOME CARE
• Wear wings.

• Wear hats/caps or scarves.

• Reduce stress.
REFERENCES
• National Alopecia Areata Foundation.Harvard Health Publishing:
“Alopecia Areata.”
• American Academy of Dermatology Association: “Hair Loss Types:
Alopecia Areata.”
• UpToDate: “Patient education: Alopecia areata (Beyond the Basics).”
• Mayo Clinic: “Hair loss.”
• Chantal Bolduc, 2020. Alopecia Areata: Treatment and management.
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1069931-treatment
Registration number
• ONUH CHISOM .M. 2016624069
• MADU MIRACLE CHINECHEREM 2016624070
• OKORO FAVOUR .C.2016624077
• NWABUDE ANTHONY .A. 2016624064
• MALIZU CHIAMAKA .E.2016624066
• CHIME CHIDIMMA FAVOUR2016624073
• EZEIGWE JENNIFER CHIDERA2016624088
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• 2016624075
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