Alopecia Areata Center - Wilmington, NCWilmington 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 Wilmington * Catherine H Kassens MD  Dermatology Associates PA  Dermatology Associates PA  Dermatology Associates PA  Dermatology Associates PA  Atlantic Dermatology Associates PA  Atlantic Dermatology Associates PA  Summit Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Care Center  Lower Cape Fear Dermatology Clinic PA  John P Surratt MD PA  Dan M Henshaw MD  Southeastern Dermatology PA  Wayne Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery PA  Goldsboro Skin Center  East Carolina Dermatology  Coastal Dermatology  Fayetteville Dermatology Clinic  Crystal Coast Dermatology Services PA  Ravenhill Dermatology  Ravenhill Dermatology  Polley Clinic of Dermatology Wilmington, North CarolinaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-20
2012-05-20
2012-05-31
2012-06-16
2012-08-04
2012-09-08
2012-10-14
2012-10-20
2012-11-04
2012-11-11
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 Wilmington
Nearby Wilmington Hospitals *New Hanover Regional Medical Center Cape Fear Hospital Dosher Memorial Hospital Pender Memorial Hospital Brunswick Community 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
