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Alopecia

Alopecia

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Alopecia areata is one type of hair loss that typically causes patches of baldness and in some cases total baldness . In most of the cases the hair re-grows, typically after several months and whereas the hair loss is permanent in some cases. Treatments f or hair re-growth works in few people.

Facts:

Alopecia means 'loss of hair' or 'hair loss' or 'baldness'. There are several different causes and patterns of alopecia. Alopecia areata is one type of hair loss.
The exact number of people affected by alopecia areata is not known. Estimates vary between 1 in 1000 to 2 in 100 people being affected at some point in their life.
Alopecia areata can occur at any age but most cases first develop in teenagers and children.
In about 6 in 10 cases the first patch of hair loss develops before the age of 20 years.
Males and females are equally affected.

Symptoms:

One or more bald patches to appear on the scalp.
Round in shape about the size of a large coin.
Develops quite quickly. - bald patch or patches
Some mild redness, mild scaling, mild burning, or a slight itchy feeling on the bald patches
When a bald patch first develops, it is difficult to predict how it will progress.

The following are the main ways of progress:

Quite often the bald patch or patches re-grow hair within a few months
Sometimes one or more bald patches develop a few weeks after the first one
Sometimes several small bald patches develop and merge into a larger bald area
Patches of body hair, beard, eyebrows, or eyelashes may be affected in some cases
Large bald patches develop in some people and leads to loss of scalp hair. This is called alopecia totalis
In some cases, all scalp hair, body hair, beard, eyebrows, and eyelashes are lost. This is called alopecia universalis.
The nails are affected in about 1 in 5 cases and can become pitted or ridged.

Causes:

An auto-immune disease
Mild inflammation which leads in some way to hairs becoming 'weak' and fall out to cause the bald patches.
It is not known why it is common for only certain areas of the scalp to be affected.
Affected hair follicles are not destroyed. Affected hair follicles are capable of making normal hair again if the immune reaction goes and the situation returns to normal.
Cause is unknown

Treatment for Alopecia

The following are a few treatment options for alopecia areata, but get in touch with Dermacare to find out your condition and the best treatment that can be availed.

Not treating is a common option.Alopecia areata is a very unpredictable condition. In many cases, bald patches re-grow by themselves without treatment
Steroid injections :Injections of steroid into the bald patches of the scalp suppresses the local immune reaction that occurs in alopecia areata.
Topical ('rub-on') steroid :Steroid cream, gel, etc, may help hair re-growth and in some case steroid injections are also administered.
Minoxidil solution: It is rubbed into the bald patches and has been shown to promote hair re-growth in some cases. This is the same treatment that is used for the common 'male pattern' baldness.
Topical steroid plus minoxidil solution : Some people feel that combination of a topical steroid with minoxidil gives a higher chance of hair re-growth. However, there is little research evidence to prove this.
Topical immunotherapy : is most effective option for people with extensive alopecia areata. However, this treatment is only done by some skin specialist and so you will need to be referred to one of these specialists for it.
Dithranol : is to be less effective than topical immunotherapy, but works in some cases. It is applied on each day to the whole scalp.

Other treatments: Various other treatments may be used or advised like

Special light therapy or phototherapy (PUVA) has been used with some limited success. This treatment requires many light therapy sessions in a hospital out-patient department.
The immunosuppressant medicine called ciclosporin usually works well to cause hair re-growth in extensive alopecia areata.
Dermatography (tattooing) can be used to simulate eyebrows that have fallen out.
Counselling is sometimes helpful for people who find it difficult to cope with hair loss.
Remember to use sun block or a hat to protect bald patches when out in the sun.
There is not enough evidence to say how effective complementary treatments are in treating alopecia areata. (For example, acupuncture, aromatherapy, etc.)

The information provided here acts just as a reference and in no way substitute’s advice(s) given to you by your doctor. For advice call Dermacare.

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