New research at the University of Granada advises patients to visit the dentist if they notice localized hair loss, in order to receive a careful examination of their oral health.
Alopecia areata, believed to be an auto-immune disease, causes one or more round bald patches to appear on the scalp, in the beard, or in the eyebrows. The disease occurs in males and females of all ages, and affects 1 out 1000 people.
Research at the UGR establishes, for the first time, a relationship between alopecia and dental disease. Researches noticed that bald patches caused by tooth infection appeared on a line projected from the dental infection – when located on the face at the level of the maxillary teeth, beard, or even near the eyebrows. Hair loss can also be located far from infection outbreak.
In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by the immune system. Some of the factors that cause alopecia are: genetics, emotional stress, and specific and non-specific immune reactions.
The affected hair follicles are not totally destroyed and hair typically re-grows after several months, but in 25 percent of patients, the symptoms reappear.