Alopecia Areata: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Alopecia Areata is a skin condition that causes hair to fall in patches on the head. These are mostly unnoticeable at first but eventually, they get connected and become noticeable. Alopecia areata is caused when the immune system of our body attacks the hair follicles.
It is not only observed on the head but also in some cases on the eyebrow, eyelashes, face, and other parts of the body as well. Although it is mostly seen in patches it can cause complete baldness called Alopecia Universalis and can prevent hair from growing out.
Although, if the hair does grow back, it can again fall out. The alopecia areata treatment in Pune can help hair grow back faster. It can also prevent future hair loss. It is also stress-related a lot of times so treatment for stress can also reduce the effects of alopecia areata.
Treatments:
- Minoxidil: It can be rubbed on the scalp, eyebrows, and beard twice a day. The results take the time of around a year to show.
- Anthralin: It is used to irritate the skin. It may spur hair growth.
- Corticosteroid: It is used in the form of foams, lotions, ointments. They work by reducing inflammation on the hair follicle.
- Steroid Injections: Steroid Injections are also given in case of patchy hair loss.
- Cortisone Tablets: They can stimulate growth in the hair follicles. But they have side effects that need to be discussed with doctors.
- Immunosuppressants: Now as you know that Alopecia Areata is caused due to the attack of the immune system on hair follicles, immunosuppressants like methotrexate and cyclosporine can be helpful.
They work on blocking the body’s immune system response. But long use of these immunosuppressants can have side effects such as high blood pressure, liver, and kidney damage.
- Light Therapy: Light Therapy is a radiation treatment that uses UV light to induce hair growth. It is also called photochemotherapy or p
- Aromatherapy: As stated earlier, alopecia areata is also caused due to stress, aromatherapy can be useful in treating stress which in turn help in reducing hair loss.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture helps to increase the blood flow in the hair follicles. It may stimulate hair growth in the bald spots and also reduce hair loss.
- Microneedling: Microneedling is used to stimulate hair growth by puncturing the skin. The skin punctures send signals to the body which may trigger hair follicle growth.
- Probiotics: Probiotics can help in restoring gut health. Gut health is one of the main reasons why the body has an immunity Thus the probiotics can help fight the root cause.
- Low-level Laser Therapy: Low-level laser therapy targets the hair follicles thereby stimulating hair growth and reducing hair loss.
- Topical gels: Topical Gels can help reduce any external inflammation on the scalp or the hair follicles thereby increasing hair growth.
- Onion Juice: Onion Juice is great for any hair woes including alopecia areata. It can help stimulate hair growth, reduce inflammation as well as reduce hair fall.
- Essential Oils: Essential Oils mixed in carrier oils are a great treatment for a lot of hair problems. These oils reduce inflammation as well as induce hair growth.
- Regular Head massages: A regular head massage can help reduce hair fall by reducing inflammation of the follicles.
The important thing to note here is that the effectiveness of each treatment may vary from person to person. Some may see the effect as soon as they start the treatments, whereas some may see it late. At the same time, some may need no treatment at all as their hair grows back on its own.
Symptoms
The initial symptom experienced is hair loss. On the scalp, eyebrows, beard, and other parts of the body. You will start noticing hair on your pillow sheets, in the shower, or in your clothes.
The best way to predict alopecia areata is when hair falls out in a pattern and doesn’t grow back. The most important thing in alopecia areata is that hair loss is unpredictable.
Causes
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease. In this type of disease, the immune cells identify the body cells as being foreign cells thereby eliminating them from the body. In this case, it attacks your hair follicles mistaking them to be some form of virus or bacteria.
As time progresses the size of the hair follicles grow smaller and smaller and after a point, they stop producing hair altogether. The people who have a family history are more susceptible to this.
Author Bio: Shirley Daniel is a copywriter and content strategist. She helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI. She loves writing as much as she loves the cake.