


Causes of Alopecia Areata
An autoimmune condition is when your immune system turns on itself. In this case, your white blood cells attack your hair follicles resulting in hair loss. Alopecia can affect any hair growth region on the body but occurs mostly on the scalp.
Autoimmune disease is a genetic characteristic. So, you might be prone to alopecia if someone in your family has an autoimmune disease. But having a parent with alopecia areata doesn’t mean you will have it and your child won’t necessarily inherit it from you.
Maybe you’re wondering why your white blood cells would start attacking normal, healthy hair follicle cells. Sadly, doctors don’t know why it happens, they can only explain what happens once it’s started. If you already have an autoimmune condition, there is a chance that you could get alopecia areata as well.
Here are a few examples of medical conditions that might make it more likely for you to get alopecia areata:
- Asthma
- Pernicious anaemia
- Thyroid disease
- Vitiligo

Support for Sufferers
Alopecia is not contagious, and it doesn’t make you sick. But there’s no reason to minimise the effect this condition can have on your state of wellbeing. You have every reason to pursue treatment. Our hair is important, and for many of us, it serves to define us. So get help from your doctor, see a hair specialist or join a support group.
Medical News Today points out that, “For many people, alopecia areata is a traumatic disease that warrants treatment addressing the emotional aspect of hair loss, as well as the hair loss itself.”
You are not alone in this – far more people experience this condition than you’d think. Many people conceal their baldness or feel unwilling to talk about it. However, speaking up is the first step to helping yourself and others.
If you have questions about alopecia areata, please feel free to contact the Fulham Scalp and Hair Clinic. Our team has a great deal of experience in treating all forms of hair loss and we can help you.