Autoimmune Disease, including Alopecia, is a disease where the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissues leading to the deterioration and in some cases to the destruction of tissues. One of its causes is inflammation caused by lifestyle.
There Are More Than 80 Different Types Of Autoimmune Diseases, But Some Of The Most Common Ones Are:
Graves’ disease
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
Type 1 diabetes
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Normally, the immune system can tell the difference between foreign cells and your own cells. In an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakes part of your body, like your joints, skin, organs, or hair as foreign bodies that it needs to terminate.
It releases proteins called autoantibodies that attack healthy cells.
Some autoimmune diseases target only one organ. Type 1 diabetes damages the pancreas. Other diseases, like lupus, affect the whole body.
There are many causes and we need to treat the cause rather than the symptoms.
I have an autoimmune disease and I caused it – I have alopecia.
Watch the first video in the alopecia head shaving series below.
So What Is Alopecia?
Alopecia is an autoimmune disease. There are different types of alopecia that affect the patient in different ways. Some of the common types are below:
Alopecia Areata (AA) is a type of hair loss that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles. Hair follicles are where hair growth begins. The damage to the follicle is usually not permanent.
Alopecia Totalis (AT) is a condition characterized by the complete loss of hair on the scalp.
Alopecia Universalis (AU) is a condition characterized by the complete loss of hair on the scalp and body.
Hair regrowth can vary from person to person. Some people regain their hair back. Some grow it back and lose it again and others loose it and it never grows back.
Experts do not know why the immune system attacks the follicles. Learn more about Living With An Autoimmune Disease in our Holistic Living Magazine.
What Are the Main Causes of Alopecia?
Stress can be one of the triggers for developing alopecia. I have been working a full time job as well as building my business and burning the candle at both ends for way too long.
My body started to give me signs long ago but I thought I was superwoman and thought I would ignore them. I knew that I was burning myself out but I kept going regardless.
Funny thing is I am writing a book about our body’s wisdom and how it gives us messages but I did not listen to my own advice and I kept on pushing.
Some of the symptoms I have been getting are; Fatigue – so I kept on pushing. Hair loss in the shower for the last 3 months – so I kept on pushing.
Withdrawal from friends and the people I love – so I kept on pushing. Stress – so I kept on pushing. Depression – so I kept on pushing. THEN I HAD A MESSAGE THAT STOPPED ME IN MY TRACK. HAIRLOSS!
I woke up to a bald patch on my forehead and I knew exactly what it was. Alopecia. I know it is an autoimmune disease and a BIG WAKE UP CALL for me to change my lifestyle.
What is the treatment and what lead me to shaving my head on live camera? Watch the video and find out more in part 2….. Here is another article on Autoimmune Conditions.
You can find much more information on living a holistic lifestyle in these free magazines and on our YouTube channel.
Sharon White – Subconscious Mind Expert
Our body is equipped with a powerful set of tools for resisting invading microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Unfortunately, these set of tools, or the immune system, sometimes goes awry and attacks our body. These misdirected immune responses are referred to as autoimmunity. In case you are experiencing any abnormalities in your body, go seek autoimmune specialist ASAP.