Can a low immune system lead to hair loss? 

• Autoimmune diseases causing hair fall

• Takeaway

 Some people's hair can become grey as a result of a serious illness or as a reaction to ongoing stress. Finding the precise causes of this has proven challenging. One of the most dreaded conditions is hair loss, which affects a staggering 25% of women and 50% of men over the age of 50. However, it isn't just age-related. In actuality, a variety of variables, including genetics, hormones, drugs, and general lifestyle choices, can contribute to hair loss. Hair loss can be brought on by the majority of life's stresses, such as disease, mental distress, protein deficiency during strict dieting, and hormonal changes like those that occur during pregnancy, adolescence, and menopause. A major cause of hair loss, especially in people under the age of 50, is an autoimmune disease, which, according to The Autoimmune Registry, affects around 14.7 and 23.5 million Americans as of today. The immune system wrongly targets the body when one has these illnesses, and among the many unpleasant side effects is hair loss. The body stops hair growth to conserve energy, much as what happens when people are under a lot of stress and on rigorous diets. 

Autoimmune diseases causing hair fall

It is estimated that 6.6 million people in the United States and 147 million people globally suffer from this illness, which causes hair loss. It is known as alopecia Universalis and is characterized by patches of hair loss that, in severe cases, can progress to total hair loss from the scalp or from the entire body. Although there isn't an FDA-approved cure for alopecia areata, there are several alternatives. A series of corticosteroid injections into the scalp or skin may be helpful for the patchy hair loss caused by alopecia. Injections of PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, are a non-pharmaceutical therapeutic alternative that has been shown to be effective in some circumstances.

The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans have this chronic autoimmune illness. Anaemia, exhaustion, headaches, aching joints, abnormal blood clotting, hair loss, and other symptoms are only a few of the many systems and organs in the body that it may affect. When the body's own antibodies invade the hair follicles, the body rejects the hair shaft, which results in hair loss. Hair may regrow during remission intervals, but if follicle damage takes place, the loss may be irreversible.

Hashimoto's is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, a disorder in which the thyroid gland does not generate enough hormones to properly control metabolism. It is also termed as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. This results in thyroid gland inflammation, which interferes with the thyroid's capacity to operate and creates an underactive thyroid. Some persons suffer changes in their hair's texture, thinning hair, or a lot of hair falling out in the sink or shower, it can become dry, coarse, or easily tangled. Up until thyroid levels are corrected through medicine or other means, this hair loss will persist.

Another condition that affects the thyroid is this one. In Graves' disease, antibodies attach to the thyroid cells' surface, encouraging them to overproduce thyroid hormones and causing hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid. Additionally, it may have an impact on where on the body and on the scalp new hair is produced. Graves' disease can be treated with antithyroid medications that prevent the generation of thyroid hormones, such as propylthiouracil and methimazole.

This skin ailment, which typically affects the knees, knuckles, and elbows, can also affect the scalp. Psoriasis can be severe and cause scales, redness, and occasional irritation when it affects the scalp. Typically, psoriasis does not result in significant hair loss, but it is possible. Because of the tight scaling on the scalp, the width of the hairs may alter, leading to breakage.

Patients who already have one autoimmune disease are more likely to get another, such as the inflammatory bowel disease Crohn's disease, which can result in more hair loss. Treatments for Crohn's disease may include drugs, surgery, and nutrition to alleviate symptoms, manage inflammation, and address nutritional issues. Biologic immunosuppressants are frequently used in medications to reduce inflammation, and nutraceuticals, laser therapy, topical medications, and PRP are the mainstays of therapies.

Takeaway

These are often not major medical conditions, but they can be quite stressful and depressing. There are support groups available to assist you in coping with the psychological consequences of the disease. Even if you completely lose your hair, it might regrow. If not, there are several home remedies for hair fall control, hair growth supplements and techniques to hide your baldness and safeguard your scalp. Always consult a doctor if you have abrupt hair loss.