What are the symptoms of alopecia and what causes it?

Alopecia affects millions of people around the world

Roz has been documenting her experience with alopecia on her Instagram and has been praised for being so honest about it.

Her journey has been a complex one, full of highs and lows, but she recently shared an update about the condition.

She told her followers that she went to see Dr Catriona Ryan from the Institute of Dermatologists.

She was given injections for the condition and said they really helped her.

"If you suffer similar with alopecia like me, getting in with a really good dermatologist and having that reassurance that if you ever notice a patch, you can call them straight away and get them to deal with it."

But what are the symptoms of alopecia and what causes it?

Alopecia causes hair loss which usually appears as round or oval bald patches at first and then develops. It can appear on your scalp but it may also affect your eyebrows, eyelashes, the hair on your legs, and even nostril hairs.

One of the main causes of alopecia is because of a person's genes. You may suffer from alopecia if there is a history of it in your family.

Another factor is hormonal changes and medical conditions like hormonal changes, menopause, thyroid problems, and trichotillomania.

Stress is another major factor that leads to hair loss, but it may be temporary loss.

How is it treated?

There are treatments available for alopecia but they may not always work for everyone. One of the main treatments is steroids that are applied directly to the area or injected.

Steroids help to suppress the immune cells that are attacking your hair follicles. This will help the hair to regrow but another option is applying a topical treatment like squaric acid.

There is one downfall to this treatment as it can cause redness, as well as itchiness for the patient.

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