Preventing Alopecia Areata - Alopecia areata, hair follicles are assaulted by white blood cells that cause hair to stop growing. It is a skin disease that results in hair loss to the scalp and body. If you have a close family member with the disease, you have a higher risk of also developing the disorder. The fact is that much of the public is still not familiar with alopecia areata, and this disease can have an intense effect on one's life and functional status at work, home and or school. The stem cells that continually supply the hair follicle with new cells do not seem to be targeted, so the follicle always has the potential to regrow hair. Because alopecia universalis is responsible for loss of eyelashes, eyebrows and hair in the nose and ears can make the person more suseptible to dust, germs, and foreign particles entering the eyes, nose, and ears.

There is no cure for alopecia areata and no drugs have been approved for its treatment, but some people have found medications approved for other purposes can help hair grow back, at least temporarily. Minoxidil and Propecia are FDA-approved for treating male and female pattern hair loss. There are some treatments for alopecia areata but you should understand these are not a cure for the disorder.