Television presenter Melanie Sykes recently opened up about her ongoing experience with alopecia by sharing images of her hair loss on social media. The 55-year-old star previously explained that the condition had left her 'two-thirds bald' after receiving her diagnosis last year. She has connected the hair loss to long-term stress and PTSD, alongside a heart condition and widespread bodily inflammation.
What Is Alopecia Areata?
"Alopecia means any type of hair loss, so any type of hair loss falls under the umbrella term of alopecia, but what I think [Sykes is] talking about is alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune type of hair loss," explains Anabel Kingsley, trichologist at Philip Kingsley. This specific variation occurs when the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks healthy hair follicles. "What happens is generally your hair follicles enjoy something called immune privilege, which means that they're hidden from the immune system. But with alopecia areata, this immune privilege breaks down, and your immune system starts to attack hair follicles on your scalp, like they're a foreign body – as it would a virus – and this causes hair loss," Kingsley says.
Key Warning Signs
A primary characteristic of this condition is its sudden onset on the scalp. "It can happen really suddenly and it can range from really teeny tiny patches with no hair to covering the whole scalp or all body hair, which is more rare." The affected spots usually have a very distinct, noticeable shape. "You have kind of circular or oval patches, and they're quite pronounced, usually they are totally bald or can have a few white hairs in there," she says.
There are also subtle indicators that indicate whether the condition is actively progressing. "A distinguishing feature is the appearance of 'exclamation mark hairs' – they're thicker on the top and thinner at the bottom," Kingsley says. "If you were to take a little pair of tweezers, they would just come out with no resistance, and when you have those, it means the patch is active, so it's likely to get bigger." If you notice these changes, it is best to seek expert guidance right away.
Root Causes and Age Factors
The exact root cause remains a mystery, though it is widely classified as an autoimmune response linked to stress. "We don't know exactly what causes it, but triggers are thought to be intense stress, certain illnesses, sometimes trauma to the scalp and you're more likely to get it if you have other autoimmune conditions," Kingsley says. Though it can affect anyone, different age groups show distinct patterns of development. "You're more likely to get it when you're younger, but I do think it becomes more common in perimenopause and menopause again, because of hormonal shifts," she says.
What to Expect and Treatment Options
Fortunately, the hair follicles are rarely permanently damaged, allowing for natural recovery over time. "Often the patches just grow back on their own with no treatment within about six months," Kingsley explains. However, she warns that predicting the exact course of the condition can be incredibly difficult. "You can get one patch that just goes away, or you can get one patch and then find a lot of other patches – because it's autoimmune, it's unpredictable."
The chosen remedies depend on the severity of hair loss, but proven medical approaches yield the best results. "You can use treatments to try to help get the hair grow back, and things like topical minoxidil work quite well, especially when less than 30% of the scalp is involved," explains Kingsley. Managing the condition comes with clear limits because it is tied to internal body processes. "It's quite tricky to treat, because you can't just switch your immune system off." Standard hair products bought from websites are also unlikely to solve the underlying issue. "The kind of anti-hair loss drops that you'd buy online or in a beauty store, they're not going to do any harm, but they're not going to necessarily improve the hair loss as it's an autoimmune condition." Even so, maintaining a daily care routine can offer great comfort during a stressful time. "When you are applying something to your scalp, it can help alleviate some of that stress, because you feel like you're being proactive."
Holistic Approach and Emotional Support
Losing your hair can be emotionally challenging because the changes are so visible to others. "Many of my clients blame themselves for getting too stressed, but it's not your fault; it's an autoimmune condition. So don't beat yourself up about it because really, there's nothing you could have [done]." Focusing on your overall physical health can create the best environment for your hair to return. "Hair growth is really connected to your general health and your nutritional status. It's really about taking a 360 holistic approach," says Kingsley. Eating a varied, nutrient-rich diet is a great way to support your body's recovery. "Try to eat fresh foods, lots of antioxidants – anything you can do to keep yourself healthy is going to help your hair," she advises. "Generally, people think hair loss is a man's problem, but it affects women. So don't feel like you're alone – it can happen pretty much at any age," Kingsley says.
