Q I'm a woman in my 30s working full-time, and a bald patch about the size of a coin suddenly appeared on the back of my head. Why does alopecia areata happen?
A Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune cells mistake hair follicles for enemies and attack them. Genetic predisposition, stress, and thyroid disease are factors that can trigger its onset.
Detailed Answer
Normally the immune system protects the hair follicles, but when an autoimmune reaction develops, CD8+ T cells attack the follicles and halt the hair growth cycle. As a result, clearly bordered round patches of hair loss appear. A family history raises the risk of onset by about 25%, and the condition may also accompany severe stress, atopic dermatitis, or thyroid disease.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, the root of alopecia areata is seen as Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness (hyeolheo-pungjo). When the blood becomes deficient and dry, the follicles do not receive enough Qi and blood, making the immune system prone to overreacting to external stimuli. The first step of treatment is to replenish the blood from within and stabilize the immune response.
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Q
It's been 2 years since my alopecia areata appeared and I have several bald patches. At this level, can it still improve with Korean medicine treatment?
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