Hair loss can be the result of several factors. One common cause of thinning hair and hair loss, especially before age 50, is an autoimmune disease.
What Is an Autoimmune Disease?
The human body is protected by the immune system, a complex system comprised of several body parts. These various organs and body parts are designed to identify and attack invaders that could be detrimental to the body's normal healthy functions.
When an autoimmune disorder occurs, the immune system can't differentiate between healthy cells and foreign invaders. The result is that the immune system starts to attack and damage healthy cells.
Researchers have identified over 80 different autoimmune diseases. While some of these are rather common and well-known, others are relatively rare and difficult to diagnose. Patients with rare or unusual autoimmune disorders may have symptoms for years before the condition is diagnosed correctly. With no known cure for most autoimmune diseases, patients require life-long treatment and are also more susceptible to acquiring other autoimmune disorders.
Auto-immune Disease and Hair Loss
Autoimmune diseases can cause a wide range of symptoms, including hair loss. If you notice increased hair shedding or start to experience hair loss, it is important not to assume the cause is an autoimmune disease. Many things could cause your hair loss, and consulting with the experts at Mane Image, we can help you determine potential causes of your hair loss and enable us to recommend solutions.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease that relates directly to hair loss. The disorder causes your immune system to attack your hair follicles as foreign bodies. In the early stages, the follicles remain alive and have the potential to recover, but over time they may become permanently damaged and unable to produce new hair.
Alopecia areata can manifest in many ways, frequently occurring in unpredictable cycles. As the hair follicle's growth cycle is interrupted, hair loss can occur in small round patches or be widespread, affecting the entire scalp. Small patches of hair loss often heal and regrow before appearing on another area of the scalp.
Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that researchers speculate is caused by genetics. While lupus doesn't primarily affect the hair, the condition can have a profound effect, causing many problems throughout the body.
While the exact cause is unknown, a specific trigger seems to set the disease process off, producing symptoms that include fatigue, joint pain, headaches, lethargy, anemia, and hair loss. The symptoms caused by lupus are common and can be caused by several conditions, earning the disease the distinction of being called the "great imitator."
Hashimoto's Disease
Hashimoto's disease, formally known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, involves the immune system attacking the thyroid gland.
Your thyroid plays a crucial role in regulating many bodily functions and, if damaged, can cause widespread symptoms. As the white blood cells attack the thyroid gland, it becomes inflamed and impaired, leading to an underactive thyroid.
The disease progresses slowly, with initial symptoms being fatigue and sluggishness. As the disease progresses and the level of thyroid hormones in the blood drops, symptoms include weight gain, muscle aches, and hair loss.
Contact Mane Image
There are many autoimmune diseases, and they often mimic the symptoms of other conditions, so if you are experiencing hair loss, it's important not to panic. It is critical to find the cause as soon as possible, and the first step is to consult with a professional. If you are experiencing hair loss due to an autoimmune disease, the experts at Mane Image can help you create a customized treatment plan to help you with your hair loss. If you are experiencing thinning hair or hair loss, contact the experts at Mane Image today and schedule your FREE initial consultation.
