Hair Loss Treatment
Alopecia areata is a skin disorder that causes hair to fall out in patches and can affect both men and women. While the hair grows back in most people, it can cause complete baldness in some. Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune disorder and doesn’t have a known cause. Here’s some further information about this condition.
Symptoms of Alopecia Areata
The most common symptom of alopecia areata is hair loss that occurs in round patches on your scalp. If you have a mild case, you may just have one or two coin-size patches on your scalp. Your hair may even grow back after that.
If you have a more severe case of alopecia, it can cause hair loss all over your body, including your eyelashes, eyebrows, legs, and arms.
If you have this condition, you may also notice dents or white spots on your fingernails and toenails.
Preventing Alopecia Areata
Unfortunately, there’s no way you can prevent alopecia areata. It isn’t caused by stress and the severity can vary from person to person. If you have a family member with this condition, you have a higher chance of developing it.
Treatments for Alopecia Areata
While there’s no cure for alopecia areata, it can be treated and your hair can grow back. Here are some treatment options to consider:
- Topical Immunotherapy: If you have a lot of hair loss, you may want to try topical immunotherapy. During this treatment, chemicals are applied to your scalp to produce an allergic reaction. If it’s successful, the reaction can help your hair grow back.
- Corticosteroids: These drugs are often prescribed for autoimmune disorders and can be injected into the scalp. They can also be administered in pill or ointment form.
- Rogaine: Rogaine is a well-known treatment for pattern baldness and may be able to help you regrow your hair. The treatment is applied directly to your scalp and may take about 12 weeks to work.
- Hair Transplant: If your hair isn’t growing back, you may want to think about getting a hair transplant. During this procedure, hair is taken from another part of your body and implanted into your scalp. The results are very natural looking and can restore your self-confidence.
Other Tips to Deal With Alopecia Areata
While alopecia areata won’t affect your physical health, it can be emotionally difficult to deal with. You may feel so self-conscious about your hair loss that you isolate yourself from others.
It may be helpful to join a support group for people with alopecia areata. You can meet others who share your struggles and tell your story. When you realize that there are other people with your condition, you won’t feel so alone.
You may also want to talk to your hair stylist about helping you cover the bald patches on your head. He or she can show you different hairstyles that can help you feel more self-confident.
Resources:
Wikipedia, Hair Treatment
