Alopecia Areata Center - Vancouver, WAVancouver Dermatologist Doctors for Alopecia AreataType of Physician: Dermatologist What is a Dermatologist? A certification by the Board of Dermatology; practitioners treat pediatric and adult patients with disorders of the skin, mouth, hair and nails as well as a number of sexually transmitted diseases. They also have expertise in the care of normal skin, the prevention of skin diseases and cancers, and in the management of cosmetic disorders of the skin such as hair loss and scars. Specialty: Dermatology Common Name: Skin Doctor Dermatologist Doctors in Vancouver * Dermatology Associates  Dermatology Associates  Kaiser Permanente Clark County  Kaiser Permanente Clark County  James L Boylon MD  Dermatology & Allergy Specialists of Olympia  Dermatology & Allergy Specialists of Olympia Vancouver, WashingtonUpcoming Local Events2012-05-19
2012-05-19
2012-05-20
2012-05-27
2012-06-09
2012-06-17
2012-06-30
2012-07-21
2012-08-11
2012-10-07
Alopecia AreataRead the Alopecia Areata article » What is alopecia areata?Alopecia areata is a hair-loss condition which usually affects the scalp. It can, however, sometimes affect other areas of the body. Hair loss tends to be rather rapid and often involves one side of the head more than the other. Alopecia areata affects both males and females. This type of hair loss is different than male-pattern baldness, an inherited condition.
What causes alopecia areata?Current evidence suggests that alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system. This particular abnormality leads to autoimmunity. As a result, the immune system attacks particular tissues of the body. In alopecia areata, for unknown reasons, the body's own immune system attacks the hair follicles and disrupts normal hair formation. Biopsies of affected skin show immune cells inside of the hair follicles where they are not normally present. What causes this is unknown. Alopecia areata is sometimes associated with other autoimmune conditions such as allergic disorders, thyroid disease, vitiligo, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Sometimes, alopecia areata occurs within family members, suggesting a role of genes and heredity.
What are the different patterns of alopecia areata?The most common pattern is one or more spots of hair loss on the scalp. There is also a form of more generalized thinning of hair referred to as diffuse alopecia areata throughout the scalp. Occasionally, all of the scalp hair is lost, a condition referred to as alopecia totalis. Less frequently, the loss of all of the hairs on the entire body, called alopecia universalis, occurs. Sometimes the hair loss can involve the male beard, a condition known as alopecia areata barbe. Who is affected by alopecia areata?Alopecia areata tends to occur most often in children, teens, and young adults. ... Recommended Reading Related to Alopecia AreataWhat is leprosy?Leprosy is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, which causes damage to the skin and the peripheral nervous system. The disease develops slowly (from six months to 40 years!) and results in skin lesions and deformities, most often affecting the cooler places on the body (for example, eyes, nose, earlobes, hands, feet, and testicles). The skin lesions and deformities can be very disfiguring and are the reason that infected individuals historically were considered outcasts in many cultures. Although human-to-human transmission is the primary source of infection, three other species can carry and (rarely) transfer M. leprae to humans: chimpanzees, mangabey monkeys, and nine-banded armadillos. The disease is termed a chronic granulomatous disease, similar to tuberculosis, because it produces inflammatory nodules (granulomas) in the skin and nerves over time.
What is the history of lepro...Emergency Contact for Vancouver
Nearby Vancouver Hospitals *Southwest Washington Medical Center Memorial Campus Southwest Washington Medical Center Mother Joseph Campus Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Oregon State Hospital Portland Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center  Providence Portland Medical Center  Shriners Hospital for Children  Oregon Health & Science University Hospital  Doernbecher Childrens Hospital at OHSU  Portland VA Medical Center  Providence St Vincent Medical Center  Adventist Medical Center  Providence Milwaukie Hospital  Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center  Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center  Tuality Community Hospital  Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center  Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center  Tuality Forest Grove Hospital  Providence Newberg Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Alopecia Areata by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
3 articles-
Vitiligo
- Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin turns white due to the loss of pigment from the melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin that gives the skin color.
-
Hair Loss
- There are many causes of scalp hair loss. This featured article covers the common ones such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata, trichotillomania, and tinea capitis), telogen effluvium, and androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern baldness, female-pattern baldness).
-
Leprosy
- Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is a disfiguring disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium leprae bacteria. The disease is spread from person to person through nasal secretions or droplets. Symptoms and signs of leprosy include numbness, loss of temperature sensation, painless ulcers, eye damage, loss of digits, and facial disfigurement. Leprosy is treated with antibiotics and the dosage and length of time of administration depends upon which form of leprosy the patient has.
-
Vitiligo
-
Medications
2 articles -
Procedures & Tests
0 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
6 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
4 articles -
Health News
1 articles -
Health Features
2 articles
