Alopecia totalis is the loss of all
hair
Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Hair is one of the defining characteristics of mammals.
The human body, apart from areas of glabrous skin, is covered in follicles which produce thick terminal and ...
on the
head
A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple ani ...
and
face. Its causes are unclear, but it is believed to be an
autoimmune disorder. Research suggests there may be a genetic link: the presence of DRB1*0401 and DQB1*0301, both of which are
human leukocyte antigens (HLA), have been found to be associated with long-standing alopecia totalis.
Treatment
Methotrexate and
corticosteroid
Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates, as well as the synthetic analogues of these hormones. Two main classes of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, are invo ...
s are proposed treatments.
Scalp cooling has specifically been used to prevent alopecia in
docetaxel chemotherapy, although it has been found prophylactic in other regimens as well.
Treatment effects may take time to resolve, with one study showing breast cancer survivors wearing wigs up to 2 years after chemotherapy.
See also
*
Alopecia areata
*
Alopecia universalis
References
External links
{{Disorders of skin appendages
Conditions of the skin appendages
Human hair
Hair diseases