Question

Alopecia areata is a/an?

• A. Autoimmune disorder
• B. Allergic disorder
• C. Anaphylactic disorder
• D. Bacterial infection

Hint:

T cells attack hair follicles, linked with thyroid disease and vitiligo.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Alopecia areata presents as sudden, well-defined, round or oval patches of non-scarring hair loss, often with exclamation mark hairs at the margins.

Step 2: It is an organ-specific autoimmune disorder. T lymphocytes attack the anagen hair follicles after a loss of their normal immune privilege, halting hair growth in the affected areas.

Step 3: It is associated with other autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease, vitiligo and pernicious anemia, supporting its autoimmune basis. The hair loss is reversible because the follicles are not destroyed.

Step 4: It is not an allergic, anaphylactic or bacterial process. Therefore alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder.