All you need to know about alopecia

FORMER TELEVISION PRESENTER MELANIE SYKES HAS SHARED AN UPDATE ON HER BATTLE WITH THE CONDITION - HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. BY LARA OWEN

- BY LARA OWEN

MELANIE SYKES took to Instagram recently to share pictures of her battle with alopecia, previously noting that she was “two-thirds bald” with the condition.

The broadcaster, 55, opened up about her life with alopecia after announcing her diagnosis last year, as well as a heart condition and widespread inflammation, which she has attributed to prolonged stress and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

So, what are the symptoms of alopecia? Are you more prone to it later in life and what are the best treatments? A trichologist explains the key things you need to know.

What is alopecia?

“Alopecia means any type of hair loss, so any type of hair loss falls under the umbrella term of alopecia,” explains Anabel Kingsley, brand president and lead trichologist at haircare brand Philip Kingsley.

“But what I think [Melanie is] talking about is alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune type of hair loss.”

Alopecia areata is one of several types of hair loss, but it is often the most recognisable. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles.

“What happens is generally your hair follicles enjoy something called immune privilege, which means that they're hidden from the immune system,” Anabel says.

“But with alopecia areata, this immune privilege breaks down and your immune system starts to attack hair follicles on your scalp, like they’re a foreign body - as it would a virus - and this causes hair loss.”

How to spot the signs and seek help early

One of the defining features of alopecia areata, in particular, is how quickly it can appear.