Relationship between infection outbreaks on teeth and presence of Alopecia Areata

Close relationship found between infection outbreaks on teeth and the presence of Alopecia Areata or Localised Alopecia

Hair loss of unknown origin may be closely related to infection outbreaks on the teeth. These infections may cause 'alopecia areata' or 'localised alopecia'. Common signs of alopecia areata are bald patches on the scalp as well as the body. It is believed that 1 in 1000 people are affected by this disease but it does not come with any gender or age bias.

José Antonio Gil Montoya and Antonio Cutando Soriano, both professors at the University of Granada, upon research are of the opinion that patients must undergo oral health examinations by a dentist if they notice any kind of localised hair loss.

Researchers have opined that Alopecia areata, a form of dermatitis, presents the following signs: Primarily affecting the scalp, beard and the eyebrows, its typical pattern comprises of one or more round bald patches. Thought to be an auto-immune disease, it may even affect the eyelashes in extreme cases. However, with time hair may re-grow in most patients although chances of a recurrence are highly plausible in a quarter of all patients. Both the professors of the University of Granada have further reiterated that the affected hair follicles are not totally destroyed thereby making it possible for the hair to grow back in spite of recurrences.

Unplanned development in alopecia areata

Hair in the shape of an exclamation mark bordering the bald patch is discernable in patients with alopecia areata. In this condition the hair becomes weak and falls out easily. Several studies have revealed that alopecia areata has no planned development – in certain cases the hair may grow back within a few weeks but in others the disease may progress and cause further hair loss.

This research conducted at the UGR, for the first time brought forth the symbiosis between alopecia areata and dental disease, something unthought-of of until this research. Without cicatrisation, hair follicle tissues swell up and are mistakenly attacked by the immune system in alopecia areata. Some of the primary factors known to cause alopecia are: Genetics, family history, non-specific immune reactions, specific auto-immune reactions of certain organs and emotional stress, among others.

The researchers have concluded that the bald patches caused by tooth infection may not recurringly occur in the same place. They normally appear on a line projected from the dental infection and can therefore be located on the face at the level of the maxillary teeth, above a line through the lip-angle to the scalp, beard, or even the eyebrow. However, Gil Montoya and Cutando Soriano have explained that alopecia areata can be located far from the area of the infection also.