Long Island 
From cancer to COVID, from thyroid problems to chronic kidney disease, there are dozens of diseases and health conditions that impact hair growth and cause hair loss. One common category of health-related hair loss stems from autoimmune issues. These illnesses cause the immune system to direct the body’s resources away from the scalp or to outright attack the hair follicles, leading to poor growth, excessive shedding, or even baldness.
What Autoimmune Disease Can Cause Hair Loss?
Autoimmune illnesses known to cause hair loss include alopecia areata, celiac disease, cicatricial alopecia, Graves disease, lupus, and psoriasis… among others.
Alopecia areata is perhaps the most well-known hair-related autoimmune condition. Unlike other diseases (where hair loss is the secondary result of an autoimmune issue), in alopecia areata the immune system directly attacks the hair follicles. This causes circular patches of hair loss on the scalp, face, or body.
Is My Immune System Attacking My Hair?
If your hair loss is accompanied by symptoms of an autoimmune disorder, your immune system may indeed be attacking your hair. Common autoimmune symptoms include fatigue, inflammation and pain in the joints, unexplained fever, digestive problems, enlarged glands, or skin issues.
Autoimmune hair loss takes many forms. It may appear as chronic telogen effluvium/diffuse alopecia (ongoing overall hair thinning); alopecia areata (patchy hair loss); ophiasis alopecia areata (loss of a band of hair along the back and lower sides of the scalp); alopecia totalis (loss of all hair on the scalp), or alopecia universalis (loss of all hair on the scalp and body).
Can Autoimmune Hair Loss Be Reversed?
Autoimmune hair loss and regrowth can be unpredictable. Symptoms vary between diseases and even between individuals experiencing a specific autoimmune condition. Some individuals may experience full regrowth when the disease is well-controlled, while others may have partial or spotty regrowth. Others may experience permanent hair loss.
How Do I Stop Autoimmune Hair Loss?
The best way to control autoimmune hair loss is to address the underlying cause with your physician. Even though many autoimmune diseases never go away permanently, they may be managed or put into remission with lifestyle modifications and medications – like corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatories.
Because the average time to obtain an autoimmune illness diagnosis is more than four years, we strongly suggest addressing any hair loss as soon as possible… even without official confirmation of the potential autoimmune problem. Hair loss that results from autoimmune conditions can often be treated, especially when it has not progressed to extremes (like alopecia totalis or universalis).
LA FUE Hair NYC may suggest one or more treatments to address suspected autoimmune hair loss – including oral medications, platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy, or stem cell therapy.
LA FUE Hair NYC Understands Autoimmune Hair Loss
LA FUE Hair NYC understands autoimmune hair loss and can help you choose treatments to maximize your existing hair, ensure the best possible regrowth, and replace permanently lost hair. We are happy to answer any questions you have and to assist you in setting your hair restoration goals. Take that first step to a thicker, fuller head of hair, and contact us today to set up a complimentary consultation.