Balding Spot On My Lip
Sunday, October 26th, 2008Q:
Two weeks back i have just noticed while shaving i have a round patch on my upper lip where there is no hair which is very strange because i have seen last two weeks back i have perfect hair. so can you please advice me what to do? and what was the problem for losing the hair and it looks like burnt.
Thanking you in advance
A:
Patchy hair loss without any other symptoms or skin conditions is usually a sign of Alopecia Areata (AA). The form of alopecia areata that we have described in several posts in the past can be seen almost anywhere on the body where hair may grow. This disorder usually presents itself as patchy or coin shaped balding spots.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that could be seen alone or with other types of autoimmune disorders that can involve the thyroid gland. In alopecia areata hair follicles are attacked and destroyed by the immune system in limited areas causing patchy balding spots.
Recovery can be spontaneous in most cases and usually no treatment is required. See my article on treatment of alopecia areata. Some doctors may decide to treat the hair loss lesions of alopecia areata rather than waiting for spontaneous clearance especially when the lesions are exposed or patients cannot deal with them for a few months. Treatment may include a variety of lotions or injection of long acting steroids into the lesions.
Hair transplant surgery is not an option when there is any chance of alopecia areata. If you transplant hair into the balding patches of alopecia areata, your body may react against the transplanted follicles. Transplanted hair can be destroyed the same way the native hair follicles were affected by the disease.
The balding spots of alopecia areata can occasionally involve the whole head. That condition is called Alopecia Capitis. It could even extend to the whole body and cause the patient to lose some or all of his or her hair. This condition is called Alopecia Universalis. However, the outcome of the patients with typical alopecia areata is usually good and recovery is complete in most patients. I highly suggest that you see a good dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis and treat the condition if needed.
