Autoimmune Diseases That Cause Hair Loss

The immune system, which includes bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes and the white blood cells, functions to recognize and eliminate foreign invaders. When the immune system fails to differentiate between foreign invaders and normal healthy cells, autoimmune disease results. About 80 to 100 autoimmune diseases have been identified, affecting 23.5 million Americans. Autoimmune diseases are considered a major health problem, according to American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association. Autoimmune diseases can affect every part of the body, producing a wide range of symptoms, including hair loss.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata describes an autoimmune disease caused by the body’s immune system attacking the hair follicles. When white blood cells attack hair follicles, they interrupt hair growth leading to small round patches of hair loss. Alopecia areata affects approximately 2 percent of the United States population, most frequently children and young adults, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In addition to scalp hair loss, alopecia areata can cause a loss any other hair, including the eyelashes, eyebrows and facial hair. The unpredictability of this autoimmune disease makes it frustrating, but because the hair follicles remain alive, hair regrowth can occur at any time, even after years of baldness.

Lupus

Autoimmune Diseases That Cause Peripheral Neuropathy

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Lupus affects many different systems and organs in the body, creating a wide range of symptoms. Common symptoms include:

• fatigue
  
• headache
  
• painful joints
  
• anemia
  
• abnormal blood clotting,
  
• hair loss

Because these symptoms occur in many different disorders, lupus is often referred to as the “great imitator,” according to the Lupus Foundation, making it difficult to obtain a definite diagnosis 1.

Hashimoto's Disease

Hashimoto’s disease progresses slowly, producing few symptoms until the level of thyroid hormones drops significantly. Initial symptoms include fatigue and sluggishness. Additional symptoms, such as:

• hair loss
  
• increased sensitivity to cold
  
• puffy face
  
• hoarse voice
  
• unexplained weight gain
  
• muscle aches increase in severity if the condition remains untreated