What’s Good For Alopecia Hair Loss

Essential Oils For Preventing Hair Loss & Alopecia

Now lets cover some specific oils to use for hair loss. Later, well cover specific recipes and application methods to keep your hair healthy and strong

So how do essential oils combat hair loss?

The main ways they help is by stimulating the hair follicles and promoting healthy circulation. They also provide important oil balancing qualities along with a nice dose of nutritional support for the scalp and follicles.

Below youll find oils that will do just that.

New Trials For Alopecia Areata Treatment Are A Success

A new study shows that one in three patients with a severe skin disease were able to regrow hair after being treated with a common arthritis drug.

The study is based on Phase 3 clinical trials using baricitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, to treat alopecia areata, an often disfiguring skin disease characterized by rapid loss of scalp hair, and sometimes eyebrows and eyelashes.

Phase 3 clinical trials are the final testing hurdle before a new treatment can be considered for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.

This is so exciting, because the data clearly show how effective baricitinib is, said Dr. Brett King, an associate professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine and lead author of the new study, published March 26 in the New England Journal of Medicine. These large, controlled trials tell us that we can alleviate some of the suffering from this awful disease.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the bodys immune system attacks hair follicles. More than 200,000 new cases emerge each year in the United States. Although alopecia areata can develop in patients of any age, it typically occurs in people under the age of 40.

There is currently no FDA-approved treatment for the disease.

For 36 weeks, participants were given a daily dose of either 4 milligrams of baricitinib, 2 milligrams of baricitinib, or a placebo. One-third of the patients who received the larger dose grew hair back.

Eli Lilly and Company funded the research.

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What Are The Causes And Symptoms Of Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, where a person’s immune system attacks the body, in this case, the hair follicles. When this happens, the person’s hair begins to fall out, often in clumps the size and shape of a quarter. The extent of the hair loss varies in some cases, it is only in a few spots. In others, the hair loss can be greater. On rare occasions, the person loses all of the hair on his or her head or entire body .

It is believed that the person’s genetic makeup may trigger the autoimmune reaction of alopecia areata, along with a virus or a substance the person comes into contact with.

Alopecia areata is an unpredictable disease. In some people, hair grows back but falls out again later. In others, hair grows back and remains. Each case is unique. Even if someone loses all of his or her hair, there is a chance that it will grow back.

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Identifying The Cause Of Your Alopecia

There are many possible causes of hair loss. The symptoms and treatments of hair loss vary depending on the cause, so seeking a professional diagnosis is the best way to get a treatment plan that addresses your needs.

Everyone experiences hair shedding, but if youre losing more than 50-100 hairs per day, it could be due to an underlying condition. Traumatic or stressful events, illness, surgery, and pregnancy can all cause temporary hair loss.

But hair loss that continues and gets worse could indicate alopecia. The two most common forms of alopecia are alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that triggers hair loss in patches across the body. It can affect people of all ages and genders, but the good news is that hair often grows back on its own with the help of immune-suppressing medication.

Telogen Effluvium Signs And Symptoms

The most obvious symptom of telogen effluvium is the loss of hair.

âOn average, it is normal to lose approximately 100 hairs daily. When you have a stressful event, you will see a sudden increase in the shedding approximately three to four months after the event.â Houshmand says.

If you are experiencing telogen effluvium, youâll notice a considerable loss in the volume of your hair. According to a 2019 article published by Harvard Health Publishing, âIf you have telogen effluvium, you may lose an average of 300 hairs a day instead of 100.â

Additional symptoms of telogen effluvium include itching and tenderness on the scalp. According to the British Association of Dermatologists, âUsually there are no symptoms, but occasionally, telogen effluvium can be accompanied by tenderness and altered sensations in the scalp, known as trichodynia.â It is also possible to experience low self esteem during hair loss, which can be an emotional and psychological side effect.

A few things to be mindful of when experiencing telogen effluvium are:

• Hair is more fragile when it is wet, so be gentle when washing and drying.
• Hairstyles such as tight ponytails and braids can pull on hair follicles and cause more hair to fall out.
• Scratching your scalp can irritate hair follicles and prompt more strands of hair to be released.

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Take Hair Growth Supplements

As we mentioned before, there is no known link between vitamin deficiencies and alopecia. However, taking a hair growth supplement like these can certainly help make sure your hair is growing as efficiently as possible. With a hair-loving combination of Biotin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc and Folic Acid, these hair growth supplement have everything your hair follicles need to optimize their growth. Plus, they’re available as gummies that taste good and are sugar free!

Hair Growth Formula Gummies

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.

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Complications Of Hair Transplantation Surgery

Complications of hair transplant surgery can include:

• Infection this can occur because the skin is broken to perform the procedure. It can be treated with antibiotics.
• Bleeding this is usually controlled through careful post-operative care.
• Scarring this may occur at the site of removal of the donor follicles.
• Temporary, operation-induced hair loss known as telogen effluvium, can occur with hair transplantation, as well as some other operations. It occurs in approximately five per cent of people.
• Unacceptable cosmetic results scarring and poor cosmetic results are more common when hair transplants are carried out by inexperienced practitioners.

Many hair clinics offer hair transplantation. Specialist dermatologists are best qualified to properly advise about this surgery and have the most knowledge about hair in health and disease.

The Yellow Bird Peppermint Shampoo Bar

• Price: $

In addition to having a scent that some people love, peppermint may be effective for promoting hair growth.

Peppermint was shown in a 2014 animal study to be more effective than minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine.

In addition to peppermint oil, this shampoo bar contains extra menthol crystals. Menthol is a beneficial compound found in peppermint oil. Other ingredients include coconut and argan oil.

In addition to bolstering thin hair, this shampoo bar may help an itchy scalp and scalp psoriasis.

Some reviewers with thick hair report that it doesnt produce enough suds to adequately wash their hair.

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Not Treating Is A Common Option

In many cases, bald patches regrow by themselves without treatment. In particular, if there are just one or two small bald patches then many doctors would advise that you simply leave it alone at first.

If the hair loss is not too bad then there is a good chance that your hair will regrow after several months. Be patient: hair regrowth often doesn’t happen for a few months.

A change in hairstyle may perhaps conceal one or two small bald patches. If the hair loss becomes more extensive then the decision on whether to treat can be reconsidered. But even with extensive hair loss, there is still a chance that hair will regrow without treatment.

Note: alopecia areata itself won’t damage your general health and so not treating will not lead to any general health problems. When considering any treatment choices, you should take into account the possible side-effects that some of the treatments may have. Also, treatments promote hair to regrow and do not affect or cure the underlying cause of the condition.

What Causes Alopecia Areata

Its thought that alopecia areata is linked to genetics. According to Alopecia UK, about one in five people with alopecia has a family member with the same condition.

Since alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition, people with alopecia are also more likely to have family members with other autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, asthma, allergies, and lupus.

However, scientists arent sure what triggers this auto-immune response. Some people with alopecia areata believe that stress is a trigger, but there is no clinical evidence that this is true for all cases of alopecia.

Alopecia areata is not contagious and isnt linked to any vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

A healthy diet and life style can make a huge difference to normalise the hair growth cycle.

Rasmus Serup – CEO & Co-founder, Hairlust

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Your Options For Restoring Lost Hair

If youre bothered by the appearance of large bald spots or severe hair loss, a hair transplant may be your best option to regain hair youve lost. Dr. Mikell has experience in a range of hair transplantation procedures, and he can help you determine if a hair transplant is right for you.

A hair transplant involves taking small grafts of scalp and hair from elsewhere on your head and moving them to areas without hair. Typically, Dr. Mikell uses hair from the back of your head and transplants the grafts to the crown and front.

Hair transplants are considered surgical procedures, and it could take up to two years before you see the full results of your transplant treatments.

Dont let alopecia hinder your confidence. Partner with Dr. Mikell and our team to find a hair loss treatment that fits your needs. To learn more, book an appointment over the phone with Dermatology Associates of the Lowcountry today.

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Symptoms Of Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata primarily affects hair, but in some cases, there are nail changes as well. People with the disease are usually healthy and have no other symptoms.

Hair Changes

Alopecia areata typically begins with sudden loss of round or oval patches of hair on the scalp, but any part of the body may be affected, such as the beard area in men, or the eyebrows or eyelashes. Around the edges of the patch, there are often short broken hairs or exclamation point hairs that are narrower at their base than their tip. There is usually no sign of a rash, redness, or scarring on the bare patches. Some people say they feel tingling, burning, or itching on patches of skin right before the hair falls out.

When a bare patch develops, it is hard to predict what will happen next. The possibilities include:

• The hair regrows within a few months. It may look white or gray at first but may regain its natural color over time.
• Additional bare patches develop. Sometimes hair regrows in the first patch while new bare patches are forming.
• Small patches join to form larger ones. In rare cases, hair is eventually lost from the entire scalp, called alopecia totalis.
• There is a progression to complete loss of body hair, a type of the disease called alopecia universalis. This is rare.

In most cases, the hair regrows, but there may be subsequent episodes of hair loss.

The hair tends to regrow on its own more fully in people with:

• Less extensive hair loss.
• No family history of the disease.

Nail Changes

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How Is Alopecia Areata Treated

Alopecia areata cannot be cured however, it can be treated and the hair can grow back.

In many cases, alopecia is treated with drugs that are used for other conditions. Treatment options for alopecia areata include:

• Corticosteroids: anti-inflammatory drugs that are prescribed for autoimmune diseases. Corticosteroids can be given as an injection into the scalp or other areas, orally , or applied topically as an ointment, cream, or foam. Response to therapy may be gradual.
• Rogaine® : this topical drug is already used as a treatment for pattern baldness. It usually takes about 12 weeks of treatment with Rogaine before hair begins to grow.

Other drugs that are used for alopecia with varying degrees of effectiveness include medications used to treat psoriasis and topical sensitizers .

What Shampoo Ingredients Should I Use For Hair Breakage

You may also notice that your hair appears to break off more easily and seems to be thinner and weaker than it was in the past.

Hair breakage may be the result of styling habits over time, such as using heat to style your hair. Using harsh shampoos, overwashing, and not conditioning your hair can also cause it to break and thin. Modifying these habits can help restore your hair.

Shampoo ingredients that may strengthen hair and give it the look of fullness include:

• ginseng
• aloe vera

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How Do I Make My Hair Grow With Alopecia

Alopecia areata is characterized by small patches of hair loss on your scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes.

In most cases, the alopecia stops with one to two small-sized hairless patches, and the hair grows back naturally after some time, but, in some cases, the person needs to have a proper treatment for the hair growth.

When the doctor diagnoses you with alopecia areata, they may recommend a wait-and-see approach first of all. If your hair regrows naturally, you won’t need any medical treatment.

As soon as the dermatologist identifies that you need treatment, they will start the process based on factors like:

• Your age
• The amount of hair loss

Remember that there is no specific treatment for alopecia areata. The dermatologist prescribes you a few types of medications and treatments to determine what works for your condition.

Here is what the dermatologist usually recommends:

For children of 10 years of age or younger

Alopecia areata can occur anytime in life, but it often starts during childhood. If your child is experiencing continuous hair loss, you need to visit a dermatologist as soon as possible.

The possible treatment for alopecia areata for children ten years of age and younger include:

Adults and children above ten years of age

For adults and children above ten years of age, the dermatologist recommends one or more of the following treatments.

Continuous loss of eyelashes

Bald spots in eyebrows

Managing Your Hair Loss

Losing your hair can cause more than a change in your physical appearance. It can be an emotional challenge that affects your self-image and quality of life. It is important to be kind to yourself during this stressful time.

People cope with hair loss in different ways. Thinking about how you feel most comfortable in managing hair loss before, during, and after treatment may help. And, your choices may change over time.

Cold cap therapy

Wearing a cap that cools the scalp can help prevent hair loss from drugs given through a vein. This treatment is called scalp cryotherapy. You wear the cap before, during, and after chemotherapy.

The cold makes the blood vessels in the skin of your head narrower. Less blood and less of the chemotherapy drug reaches your hair follicles through the blood vessels. Keeping your scalp very cold also helps prevent damage to the hair follicles. Talk with your health care team to learn if cold cap therapy is available and might work for you.

Medications

An over-the-counter medication called minoxidil may help thinning hair from hormonal therapy or targeted therapy. It may also help if your hair does not grow back completely after chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a stem cell/bone marrow transplant.

There are also other medications you can take by mouth. These include spironolactone and finasteride .

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Questions To Ask The Health Care Team

You may want to ask your cancer care team the following questions.

• Is my specific cancer treatment plan likely to cause hair loss?

• If so, when will my hair loss happen? Will I lose hair over time or all at once?

• How should I care for my hair and scalp during hair loss?

• When will my hair grow back? What can I expect when my hair does return?

• Is there a counselor, oncology social worker, or other team member who can help me cope with hair loss?

• Are there any programs that provide free or low-cost wigs or other head coverings?