Living With Alopecia Areata
The American Academy of Family Physicians recognizes that living with alopecia areata can be emotionally difficult. It affects social interaction and self-confidence, as people are embarrassed to let others see their hair loss. It can also be frustrating to not know if your hair is going to grow back or fall out again.
Consider joining a patient support group for people who have alopecia areata. Support groups give you a chance to talk about your condition. They help you realize you are not alone in your frustration with alopecia areata. A support group can be a good resource for practical tips to deal with the condition.
Hairstyling techniques or hair care products can help to cover bare patches on your head. But some products can be harsh on your hair. This could cause additional damage and loss. You might want to talk with your doctor about what products to avoid. People who have alopecia areata are encouraged to be creative with hats, scarves, and wigs.
Losing your eyelashes, eyebrows, and the hair in your nose and ears also can be a problem. Hair protects your eyes, nose, and ears from the irritation of dust, germs, and small, foreign particles. Wear eyeglasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes. You can use antibiotic ointment inside your nose to help keep germs out.
Be sure to cover areas of exposed scalp with a hat or sunscreen to reduce your risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
Castor Oil Treatment For Alopecia
This is one of the most powerful natural treatments for alopecia. Mix together equal parts of liquid gas , castor oil, and 80-90° alcohol in a bottle and shake until you obtain a milky emulsion. Wash your hair with your regular shampoo/soap or whatever you usually use. Avoid hair blowing it with a hairdryer, though.
Use cotton pads to rub this lotion on the roots of your hairs and on the scalp. Make sure the pads arent soaked in the emulsion, otherwise, at the end of the procedure youll feel your hair greasy and the hair roots will feel clogged. Rub the emulsion in well, just as you do when you dye your hair. Wash your hair again with a natural shampoo and repeat the procedure once again. Castor oil is one of the best natural treatments for alopecia.
Treatment Options Supported By Controlled Clinical Trials Or Half
Intralesional corticosteroids and topical immunotherapy ) are the only current treatments that are generally agreed by hair experts to be effective. They are thus recommended by widely accepted guidelines as first line treatment options for alopecia areata.w7w8
Intralesional corticosteroids
No studies of intralesional corticosteroids fulfilled the recent Cochrane reviews criteria for inclusion. However, practitioners have frequently observed that a tuft of terminal hairs grows at the site of corticosteroid injection and this observation has been considered a treatment response. Prospective studies have shown that intradermal injections of corticosteroid, usually in the form of triamcinolone acetonide used every two to six weeks, stimulate localised regrowth at 60-67% of injection sites. Side effects include pain, localised atrophy, and skin depigmentation. Textbooks and national guidelines from the British Association of Dermatologists recommend this approach as first line therapy for localised patchy disease,w8 although recently this treatment has also been successfully used in extensive disease with a reported response rate of 60%.
Topical immunotherapy
Topical corticosteroids
Systemic corticosteroids
Most experts reserve systemic corticosteroids for extensive or rapidly progressive disease because of the known side effects of prolonged systemic treatment with steroids and because patients often relapse after stopping treatment.w14
Dithranol
Minoxidil
Others
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Treatments For Alopecia Areata
What you need to know about treatments for alopecia areata
Although there are currently no treatments that work for everyone with alopecia areata, some treatments are effective for some people. Depending on which type of alopecia areata you have, your age and the extent of hair loss, there are a variety of treatment options available. The main goals of treatment are to block the immune system attack and/or stimulate the regrowth of hair. This can be effective, especially for people with milder forms of the disease .
For those who have more than 50% hair loss on their scalp or other areas of the body, there are also oral and topical medications available as well as phototherapy or light treatments.
While none of the medications or devices commonly used to treat alopecia areata are approved specifically for this disease by the Food and Drug Administration , they have been approved for other diseases. Its important to know that while these therapies may offer benefits to some people with alopecia areata, there is no single option that will work for everyone. Even if your hair is regrown, there is no guarantee that it wont fall out again once treatment is stopped.
If there is no cure for alopecia areata, what good are treatments?
There are a variety of treatments for both mild and severe alopecia areata its important to stay informed, so you and your doctor can choose the best course for yours. Goals of therapy include stopping active hair loss and regrowing hair.
What Happens At Your Appointment
Your GP should be able to tell you what’s causing your hair loss by looking at your hair.
Tell your GP if your hair loss is affecting your wellbeing and ask what treatments are available.
Most hair loss doesn’t need treatment and is either:
- temporary and it will grow back
- a normal part of getting older
Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you’ve recovered.
There are things you can try if your hair loss is causing you distress.
No treatment is 100% effective.
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Who Is At Risk
Alopecia areata has two peaks of onset one in childhood and one in adulthood though it has been reported in all ages. As with other autoimmune conditions, there is likely a genetic basis to alopecia areata with unknown triggers that result in the loss of hair. Associated conditions in the patient or family that might represent increased risk include Type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, vitiligo, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Ii Top 28 Simple Home Remedies For Alopecia
Generally, there are about 100,000 hair strands on your scalp and it is normal to lose about 50- 100 hair strands a day. However, when you lose more than that, you should take some action immediately to prevent it from becoming baldness or bald spots.
1. Chinese Hibiscus
This is the first one on how to treat alopecia in men and women at home naturally and easily that I want to mention in this article, and want all of my readers with alopecia should consider applying for good.
Chinese hibiscus has vitamin C, riboflavin, and phosphorous, which are essential nutrients for healthy and smooth hair. Besides, the hibiscus flowers also help to eliminate toxins, increase blood circulation, thereby stimulating hair growth.
Method 1:
- Add 10 Chinese hibiscus flowers to 2 cups of pure coconut oil.
- Bring this mixture to a boil and when the hibiscus flowers are charred, strain it and then take the oil
- Then, apply this oil on your scalp and hair before going to bed every night and wash it off the next morning.
Method 2:
- Crush several hibiscus flowers and then mix it with coconut oil or sesame oil to create a paste.
- Apply this paste on the scalp and hair and leave it on for several hours.
- Finally, rinse it off with clean water.
- Repeat this remedy 2- 3 times weekly for about a month.
Read on Top 17 Health And Nutritional Benefits Of Hibiscus Tea to discover some of the best benefits of hibiscus tea for health.
2. How to Treat Alopecia Naturally â Coconut Oil
Directions:
3. Coconut Milk
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What Is The Outlook For People With Alopecia Areata
- Thankfully, mild cases of alopecia areata often get better without treatment within a few months to a year.
- In some cases, patchy baldness may come and go over many months or years. The size of the bald patch or patches and how long they last are quite variable.
- If less than half of the scalp is affected and no treatment is started, there is about an 80% chance of full hair regrowth within one year.
- With more extensive hair loss, it is less likely that hair will regrow.
However, even if your hair grows back fully after an episode of alopecia areata, it is common to have one or more recurrences of the condition throughout your life. A few people who develop alopecia areata will progress to total scalp baldness . Even fewer people will lose all scalp and body hair . Progression to these more extensive types of hair loss is more common if:
- The bald patches start in childhood.
- The initial bout of hair loss affects more than half of your scalp.
- You have another autoimmune disease.
Treatment can promote hair regrowth in some cases.
Treatment Algorithm For The Management Of Alopecia Areata
Patients with alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis can be treated based on age and severity of the condition. This algorithm outlines an approach that can be used from mild to severe forms of the disorder. There are now choices that the patient can decide on what is best for them based on efficacy, cost and side effect profile.
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Nutritional And Hormonal Imbalances
Nutritional factors.
Although vitamin D is thought to play a role in hair production, most of the evidence for this hypothesis comes from studies of mice lacking the vitamin D receptor and humans with VDR mutations., Targeted removal of the VDR in mice produces a cluster of clinical signs that includes alopecia. The alopecia appears to be the result of an inadequate response of hair follicles to anagen initiation. Selectively restoring VDR to the keratinocytes by crossing VDR knockout mice with transgenic mice expressing the human VDR successfully prevented the development of alopecia. Because the effect of the VDR on hair loss is ligand-independent, the actual role of vitamin D in regulating hair growth remains elusive. Furthermore, little is known about the role of the VDR in hair loss in nonhuman primates.
Alopecia has also been associated with other deficiencies and overdoses. A syndrome of alopecia, weight loss, and hypoalbuminemia in Western lowland gorillas eventually was traced to protein deficiency. This finding is consistent with the reported hair loss and hypoalbuminemia in young baboons experimentally exposed to a protein-deficient diet. Hair loss has also been linked to folacin deficiency in squirrel monkeys.
Hormonal imbalances or changes.
Alopecia Areata In Children
Children can develop alopecia areata. In fact, most people with the condition will experience their first hair loss before the age of 30.
While there is some hereditary component to alopecia areata, parents with the condition dont always pass it on to a child. Likewise, children with this type of hair loss may not have a parent who has it.
In addition to the hair loss, children may experience nail defects, such as pitting or lesions. Adults may experience this additional symptom, too, but its more common in children.
According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, children younger than age 5 typically dont experience much of an emotional impact from alopecia. After age 5, however, hair loss can be traumatizing for young children as they start noticing how theyre different from others.
If your child appears stressed or depressed, ask a pediatrician to recommend a counselor experienced with children.
Several types of alopecia areata exist. Each type is characterized by the extent of hair loss and other symptoms you may be experiencing. Each type may also have a slightly different treatment and prognosis.
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How To Apply Essential Oils To Your Scalp
Dont apply pure essential oils to your scalp.
If these oils are undiluted, they are very potent and can cause irritation to your scalp.
If you add drops of oil to your shampoo, or to a carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil, not only will your product go further but it will also save your scalp.
Leave the oil solution on your scalp for a few minutes before rinsing out and conditioning your hair as usual.
How Is Alopecia Be Treated
The treatment for hair loss depends on the cause of your condition. Sometimes your hair loss may get better on its own and no treatment is needed. If your hair loss is related to a medicine you are taking, talk to your healthcare providers. There may be other medicines you could take instead that will not cause hair loss. If your hair loss is severe, you may need one or more of the following treatments:
- Medicines:
- Hair growing agents help promote hair growth. The medicine must be used continuously until new hair grows on the affected area.
- Steroids help decrease inflammation and damage to the hair follicle. Corticosteroids may be used to treat alopecia areata.
- Estrogen is a female hormone that is used for women with hyperandrogenism . Estrogen can reduce the effects of male hormones on hair growth. This treatment is used in women with female pattern baldness.
- Immunologic agents affect the immune system cells that may be attacking hair follicles. This treatment is used to treat alopecia areata.
- Antibiotics or antifungals may be needed if your alopecia is caused by an infection.
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Children 10 Years Of Age And Younger
Alopecia areata often begins during childhood. If your child has difficulty coping with the hair loss, treatment can often help regrow hair.
Treatment options for children 10 years of age and younger are:
-
Corticosteroid you apply to the bald spots: Prescription-strength corticosteroids can help regrow hair. You apply this medication once or twice a day. For children, this alone can be an effective treatment.
-
Minoxidil: Also known by the brand name Rogaine®, minoxidil can help maintain the regrowth after you stop applying the corticosteroid. It has few side effects, so its considered a good option for children.
For children older than 10 years of age, treatment options are based on the amount of hair loss.
Complementary And Alternative Medicine
Complementary medicine refers to practices used concomitantly with conventional therapies, while alternative medicine is used in place of these therapies. The NCCIH divides CAM approaches into three main categories: natural products mind and body practices and other . CAM provides the option to choose promising, low-risk, adjuvant and alternative therapies. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of CAM treatment options for alopecia, with most evidence in androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata . Table 1 provides an in-depth summary of these investigations.
Table 1.
Summary of clinical investigations on complementary and alternative treatments for alopecia
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