What is alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes patchy hair loss when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles.
This condition disrupts the normal hair growth cycle and can lead to sudden bald spots on the scalp or body. It affects both men and women and often emerges without warning.
Red light therapy may help reduce inflammation associated with alopecia areata and support the regeneration of affected follicles. While not a cure, light-based treatments have shown promise in improving hair density in some cases.
Related terms
Diffuse Thinning
Clinical Applications
Diffuse thinning refers to uniform hair loss across the entire scalp rather than in defined patches or regions.
Corticosteroids
Clinical Applications
Corticosteroids are a class of anti-inflammatory medications used to suppress immune activity in conditions such as alopecia areata and other autoimmune-related hair loss.
Cicatricial Alopecia
Clinical Applications
Cicatricial alopecia refers to a group of rare hair loss disorders that cause permanent destruction of hair follicles through inflammation and subsequent scarring.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA)
Clinical Applications
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common hereditary form of hair loss characterized by gradual thinning of scalp hair.