A new study published in JAMA Dermatology makes some interesting connections between alopecia and other conditions: Researchers looked at 350 people with diagnosed alopecia areata and found that 38% had atopy (a genetic disposition to allergies, like allergic rhinitis, asthma, and eczema), 35% had contact dermatitis, and 14% had thyroid disease. Twenty-five percent also had a mental health problem like depression or anxiety. (While hair loss certainly causes anxiety, stress is also a known trigger of hair loss.) “Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system gets angry at the hairs and attacks them, resulting in bald patches,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, and Prevention advisor. If your immune system is attacking one part of your body, like your hair, it’s more likely to attack other parts: “Somebody who has an autoimmune disease of one sort, like alopecia, could also have another autoimmune condition, like thyroid disease,” explains Ranella Hirsch, MD, past president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology & Aesthetic Surgery. (Note that eczema and contact dermatitis are also autoimmune-related.) The takeaway: If you have any of these autoimmune conditions, talk to your dermatologist about your alopecia risk and start adopting these alopecia prevention strategies—stat. More from Prevention: Best Styles For Thinning Hair
