Alopecia Areata

What Is Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly targets hair follicles, leading to hair loss. It often appears as smooth, round patches of hair loss on the scalp, although in some individuals it can affect eyebrows, eyelashes, facial hair, or other areas of the body.

In alopecia areata, inflammatory immune cells disrupt the normal hair growth cycle and cause hair follicles to enter a resting phase. Importantly, the follicles themselves are usually not permanently damaged, which means regrowth is possible when inflammation is reduced and the hair growth cycle is restored.

The course of alopecia areata can be unpredictable, with periods of hair loss and regrowth occurring over time.

Why Alopecia Areata Develops

Alopecia areata reflects a complex interaction between immune signaling, genetic susceptibility, and environmental triggers.

Autoimmune activity

The immune system mistakenly targets hair follicles as if they were foreign tissue.

Hair cycle disruption

Inflammatory signals push follicles out of the active growth phase.

Genetic susceptibility

Individuals with alopecia areata often have a genetic predisposition to autoimmune disease.

Inflammatory signaling pathways

Immune pathways such as JAK-STAT signaling play a role in maintaining the inflammatory response around the hair follicle.

Because the follicle itself remains viable, many individuals experience cycles of hair loss and regrowth.

Factors That May Contribute to Alopecia Areata Flares

Although the exact cause of alopecia areata varies among individuals, several factors may influence disease activity.

Common contributing factors include:

• psychological or physical stress
• viral or systemic illness
• other autoimmune conditions
• hormonal changes
• nutritional deficiencies
• sleep disruption
• systemic inflammation
• genetic predisposition

Identifying the factors that contribute to immune activation may help guide a more individualized treatment approach.

Our Approach to Alopecia Areata

Dr. Larivee provides physician-led care for patients with autoimmune hair loss. Rather than focusing only on the visible hair loss, care focuses on identifying the immune and biologic factors contributing to inflammation around the hair follicle.

Treatment plans are individualized based on disease severity, pattern of hair loss, prior treatments, and overall health.

Approaches may include:

1.Clinical evaluation

Review of hair loss pattern, triggers, and prior treatments.

2.Immune regulation strategies

Targeting inflammatory pathways contributing to follicle disruption.

3. Scalp health and follicle support

Approaches that support the hair growth environment.

4.Nutritional and metabolic considerations

Addressing systemic factors that may influence hair follicle function.

5. Long-term hair cycle stability

Focus on restoring the hair growth cycle and reducing recurrence.

Who this care is for

This care model may be appropriate for patients who:

• have patchy hair loss consistent with alopecia areata
• experience recurrent hair loss episodes
• have not achieved lasting improvement with conventional treatment alone
• want a physician-guided integrative dermatology approach
• are seeking a deeper understanding of the factors influencing their hair loss

This practice focuses on chronic inflammatory skin disease and may not be appropriate for urgent dermatologic care.

Schedule an introductory consultation to discuss your hair loss concerns and determine whether our integrative dermatology approach is appropriate for your care.

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