Bacterial Infection, Alopecia Areata and Other Hair Diseases

Bacterial infection is rarely seen in adults. It is more commonly found in children and especially boys. Hair loss stemming from bacterial infection results in a patchy hair loss pattern. There is a subtle difference between hair loss stemming from alopecia areata. When bacterial infection occurs, the hair in the infected area breaks at the roots, thus, you still can see the roots of the hair. Just look at the photo below, you can clearly see several ‘black dots’, this is actually broken hair! On the other hand, hair loss from alopecia areata does not cause the hair to break, on the contrary, the entire hair including the hair roots, falls off. Furthermore, the affected hair follicles reduce in size. The affected area, usually the size of a coin, becomes smooth and shiny. This is clearly shown in the two images below.

There truth is that there is still no known cause. It is random and can even be recurring for certain people. People with auto-immune diseases from a young age are more likely to get alopecia areata. Genetic factors are said to play a role, Almost 40% of people below the age 30 with Ring-shaped Hair Loss have at least one family member who has been diagnosed with the same hair problem.

Alopecia areata develops when the immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign substances causing your own immune system to attack your hair follicles, eventually, the follicles reduce in size and stop producing hair. Till today, there is no known trigger for this auto-immune disease. Alopecia areata is easy to recognize as the hair loss pattern is distinctively circular. A small circular bald patch will suddenly appear with the skin on the bald patch being smooth and shiny. The good news is that 70% of people suffering from this condition will recover on their own within 3-6 months. However, some do not recover and their condition may even worsen. More patches may appear as seen in the picture below. If left untreated, it could lead to permanent balding. This condition often strikes before the age of 30, and about 30% of sufferers find themselves with bald patches appearing every now and then turning into a cycle of hair loss and regrowth.

Bacterial / Fungal infection usually occur in kids. Most of the time they contract these bacterial / fungal infection when playing outdoors at grassy area. These bacterials / fungals can be found in the soil and also in pets. It is important to seek treatment early as well as disposing all hair equipment, towels, etc to prevent the spread of the bacterial to other family members and also to reduce the chance of recurrence.