Tag: Areata

Alopecia Areata: Questions & Answers

Learn About Alopecia Areata Before Finding Your Solution

Understand why this hair loss disease affects hair follicles and how to cope with its unpredictable hair loss symptoms.

Q. What is alopecia?

A. Alopecia is simply the correct medical term for any type of hair loss.

Q. What is alopecia areata?

A. Alopecia areata is the most common form of an autoimmune skin disease resulting in patches of hair loss on the head or scalp. Alopecia areata usually starts with a small patch of hair loss and continues with one or more small, round patches of hair loss around the head in no predictable pattern and for no other known reason or disease.

Q. Is alopecia areata a rare disease?

A. According to current statistics on the disease, alopecia areata affects approximately 2 percent of the overall population, including more than 5 million people in the United States.

Q. How do you “get” alopecia areata?

A. Alopecia areata is classified as an autoimmune disease. A healthy human immune system contains an effective set of weapons against viruses, bacteria and parasites that can attack your body. But when a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks the body itself, it is called autoimmunity and results in a disease such as alopecia areata, depending on which cells in the body are being attacked.

Q. What causes the hair loss?

A. With alopecia areata, the immune system is mistakenly attacking hair follicles and telling them to stop growing.

Q. Is alopecia areata a hair disease or a skin disease?

A. Alopecia areata is considered a skin disease because it occurs on the skin of the hair, or scalp, and is usually diagnosed by a dermatologist. Experts agree that usually bald patches are not affected by rashes, hives or itching, although exposed scalp areas do require extra care and protection from the sun.

Q. Can someone “catch” alopecia areata?

A. No. The disease is not caused by a virus or bacteria, and it cannot be spread between people.

Q. Why does the hair loss occur in random patches?

A. The telltale symptom of alopecia areata is the random patches of hair loss. The immune system is mistakenly telling only random hair follicles in random sections of the scalp to stop growing. Unaffected hair follicles will continue to grow normally as if nothing had happened.

Q. Is the hair loss condition caused by alopecia areata permanent?

A. There is no rhyme or reason to this type of autoimmunity that researchers have been able to discover so far, aside from a slight genetic component. The condition can reverse itself as unexpectedly as it started, and hair follicles will grow again as if nothing had ever happened. Sometimes the disease can progress and include more bald patches, or sometimes new patches of hair loss may form while others grow in.

Q. What are some solutions to the patchy hair loss?

A. There is no way to halt the disease progression in any way or to treat the bald patches. Many doctors prescribe different treatments and medications based on an individual situation, and while some may work, others may not. Doctors agree that many times stress is a precipitating factor in the onset of the hair loss, so stress-reduction techniques are usually indicated, as well.

There are many studies being done on treatment solutions, but currently, non-surgical hair replacement and hair extensions are the best ways to cover the patches in order to improve the appearance of hair and feel better about your situation. Enlist the help of a qualified, experienced non-surgical hair replacement specialist to help determine the appropriate solutions to individual hair loss patches. Visit the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (www.naaf.org) for referrals to physicians experienced in treating alopecia areata, to find out about current research and treatments and to join support and advocacy groups.

Naomi Mannino is a freelance writer who writes about health, beauty, and fashion. She is a contributing writer for HairLossDotCom and writes about hair loss treatments and hair loss conditions such as traction alopecia

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Alopecia Areata Treatment Get The Right Treatment

Alopecia Areata is said as an autoimmune disease. In the person with this disease the immune system which works to protect body from foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses mistakenly damages the hair follicles from which the hair grows. This results in the hair loss. In most of the persons hair fall in small round clusters and in many cases the disease does not go beyond some bare patches. In some people hair loss is found in large volumes resulting to total loss of hair on the head, face and the body. Early determination of the disease and to start with alopecia areata treatment is the best way to put an end to the hair loss.

Present generation is more and more conscious about their hair. From the color to the style of the hair present generation is giving more importance. When the hair looks good with shine and smooth, they love to make their presence in every celebration and occasions in the front seats. But when the situations like thinning of hair, baldness and loss of hair comes it makes the person to sit in frustration. Alopecia areata is such a disease which results in loss of hair which makes bare patches. Anyhow alopecia areata is not a life threatening disease. There is no physical pain and injuries related with this disease. But it changes the attitude of a person. The disease can unpredictably change the appearance of the person due to hair loss. You can find different alopecia areata treatments to come out of the problems.

Even though there are several forms of alopecia areata treatment, none of them can prevent new patches or totally cure the disease. All the treatment promotes hair growth to cover the patched area. Treatments help to grow the hair in the patched area. At the same time chances are there for hair loss. The course or nature of disease differs from person to person. Hence the effects of treatment vary from person to person. Lose hair can be strengthened, hair will re grow with same color or would re grow with more color. Sometimes treatments can also gradually return the original hair.

Some of the commonly used medicines for alopecia areata treatment are Corticosteroids, Anthralin (Psoriatic), Minoxidil (5%), Oral cyclosporine and Sulfasalazine. All these medicines promote hair growth in your body. It is better to make use of these products with the recommendation of a specialist. Some times this can make negative impacts on your body.

Homeopathic medicines works better for alopecia areata. Most of the peoples are turning towards homeopathic and herbal alopecia areata treatment. Both these homeopathic and ayurvedic treatments depends on the natural solutions of hair growth and are free from side effects. The acts somewhat slowly, but gives you better results. Ayurvedic alopecia areata treatment studies the nature of your disease and gives you the right solution for your hair loss.

What ever is the type or nature of alopecia areata treatment, it is the early determination and treatment which brings positive results within no time.

Mervin King is the author of this article on Hair Loss Treatment For Men.
Find more information about Male Hair Loss Treatment here.

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Alopecia Areata – Learn What Are the Causes of Hair Loss and How to Treat Them

Have you ever heard of the mock alternative meaning for the acronym H.I.V.? Hair Is Vanishing. Some consider this condition as terminal as the real one. But there is something worse than experiencing your locks to slowly thin, ultimately becoming bald. Doctors call it Alopecia Areata, if you are not medically savvy then you know it as bald spot. Worst still is Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis, these two involves total hair loss in the scalp for the former, and the whole body, for the latter. The affected spot is completely hairless and smooth.

What Causes Alopecia Areata?

The root causes of this condition are still undefined. Statistical data of patients afflicted with this condition seem to show a trend that it may have something to do with genetics or may be from a type of an autoimmune disorder.

Can This Be Prevented And How Do You Treat It?

Right now, there really is no known way to protect you from being afflicted because without specifically knowing the cause, vaccines are impossible. On the bright side though, this condition is not that hard to treat. There are a handful of medications available to correct the condition. When you get afflicted with this, do not rush out to buy pharmaceutical drugs. It is best to observe the spot first since most patients do regain back their hair growth in a short time.

However, if the spot seems to get bigger, make sure you have it checked out and properly diagnosed as there are diseases that mimic Alopecia Areata and it would be best to obtain a prescription before you head out to a pharmacy. Beware though; these treatments more or less contain chemicals that are synthetic, and as such certain side effects that may accompany your hair’s reappearance, which may in turn be more harmful than losing your hair.

Now you want to live longer, look younger, and lose weight, right?

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Alopecia Areata Online Diagnosis Tool For Spot Baldness

Alopecia relates to the medical symptoms that present as an absence or loss of hair from the head or other areas of the body . Alopecia Areata pertains to a sudden loss of hair in patches usually on the head or beard and because the loss of hair is in spots this type of alopecia is sometimes referred to as “spot baldness”. This report reveals how signs and symptoms begin, what causes the disorder and how it is treated. For a more detailed look at symptoms and to walk through your symptoms to arrive at an online diagnosis, visit this Symptom Diagnosis Tool.

Alopecia Areata

Signs – Signs usually start with the decline of hair in modest areas that can be any shape but are more normally noticed as round regions. The more widespread areas for hair damage are the scalp and beard. There is typically no apparent inflammation, discomfort, or itch associated with the hair damage; however, a few people may report a small pain or tingling sensation.

Trigger – The actual trigger of Alopecia Areata is not well recognized but a lot of components may increase a man or woman’s risk such as possessing a strong family history of the condition, nervousness or stress, serious illness, selected medicines, radiation exposure, or endocrine problems.

Diagnosis – Observation of the patchy baldness may be the initial indication of the disorder and should be evaluated by a doctor. The analysis may involve a physical examination and maybe blood tests.

Treatment – Alopecia Areata may move into remission with the hair spontaneously growing again or it may be permanent. In situations were new hair spontaneously regenerates , the regrowth may take months or years and a recurrence of the hair loss is common.

A physician may prescribe a topical treatment which can be utilized directly to the scalp or spot of hair decline to stimulate new growth. Medical transplantation of hair follicles from other areas of the body may be discussed with a physician and steroid injections or other drugs such as minoxidil. The sufferer may take into account using a wig or hairpiece to cover the place of hair loss.

Did you ever wish you had a simple tool that could walk you through your symptoms and lead you to an online diagnosis? Easily figure out your symptoms using this Symptom Diagnosis Tool.

Common Approaches to Treating Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an unpredictable hair disease affecting about 2% of the world’s population and is the second most common type of hair loss after hereditary baldness. It is often called spot baldness or patch baldness due to its patchy, balding pattern. In severe cases, it can affect the whole scalp (alopecia totalis) or the entire body (alopecia universalis). It is not yet known what causes spot baldness. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease triggered by a person’s autoimmune system, which decides to attack its own hair follicles. Sometimes the hair grows back a few years later and stays and sometimes it falls out again. Although there is no treatment for alopecia areata that works 100%, some treatments have been proven to improve this condition. The most popular treatment option, which does not require a doctor’s prescription, is topical minoxidil, such as Rogaine. It can be used alone or in combination with other medicinal treatments that will be discussed later.

The most common prescription treatments for alopecia areata are corticosteroid shots, injected straight into the bald spot, and steroid gels and creams. Corticosteroid injections are a more effective but also the more painful option of the two. The aim of this approach is to suppress the autoimmune reaction but it has been proven to work only on small bald spots. Another common treatment for small bald spots, which is thought to affect the autoimmune reaction, is the application of topical anthralin. Anthralin is a tar-like substance used to treat psoriasis.

Topical immunotherapy is the most common form of treatment for extensive alopecia areata. It uses an immunosuppressant such as cyclosporine that is applied to the skin to cause a skin reaction similar to mild eczema, which in some cases leads to hair regrowth. This method is also the most drastic form of treatment, causing an array of negative side effects.

Another treatment for extensive alopecia areata is PUVA, which stands for “psoralen plus ultraviolet A radiation”, consisting of a topical or oral application of psoralen, followed by ultraviolet radiation. This method is better tolerated than topical immunotherapy but is also less effective.

A recently conducted study with sulfasalazine also spells some promise for patients with severe cases of alopecia areata. Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory medication first used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and is hoped to soon be used to treat alopecia areata.

This is the list of the most common medicinal treatments for alopecia areata. There obviously is a number of other alternative therapies that are claimed to improve this condition and do not require a doctor’s visit. Consumers should be aware that none of these products has ever been clinically shown to be effective in treating alopecia areata and such claims are possible only because these products are not regulated pharmaceuticals but non-regulated cosmetic products.

The author of this article is the editor of a website dedicated to treating different types of hair loss, including alopecia areata and other hair conditions such as dandruff and premature grey hair. Use his blog to read and/or write a consumer review on any hair care product you have used and thus share you experiences with other readers.

Hair Loss Homemade Remedies and Natural Cure for Alopecia Areata

Dandruff does not cause serious hair loss, but may increase hair loss by a significant amount. Dandruff is a skin condition that causes dry yeast, itching and flaking of the scalp. Chronic dandruff and scalp irritation may block hair follicles, which hinders the growth of hair. On the other hand, constantly scratching the scalp (to relieve itching) can weaken the roots and cause hair to fall out prematurely.

Home Remedies for Hair Loss 

Mix 100 g each of amla (gooseberry), and shikakai reetha and boil in two liters of water until the liquid reduces by half.
Massaging the scalp and hair with coconut milk or Aloe Vera gel. Leave it for half an hour, then rinse with warm water.
Mixture of Aloe Vera powder triphala herbal and applied to the hair. The new hairs begin to grow. 
Rub the scalp 

A vigorous rubbing of the scalp with fingertips after washing your hair with cold water is very beneficial to prevent hair loss and baldness. The scalp should be rubbed in full force until it begins to vibrate with the heat.

Amalaki Oil

Amalaki oil made by boiling dry pieces of coconut oil amalaki is considered useful hair tonic for enriching hair growth. A mixture of an equal amount of fresh amalaki juice and lemon juice, used as shampoo also causes hair growth and prevents hair loss.

Onion

Onion has also been found beneficial in patchy baldness. The affected part should be rubbed with onions morning and evening until it is red.

Coconut Milk

The application of coconut milk all over the scalp and massage into the hair roots is also beneficial in treating hair loss. Coconut milk is arranged by grind the coconut shaving and squeeze it.
Mustard oil and henna leaves

Mustard oil boiled with henna leaves is useful for healthy hair growth. About 250 ml of mustard oil should be boiled in a tin container. About sixty grams of henna leaves should be gradually put in this oil until they are burned in oil. The oil must be filtered with a cloth and stored. Regular massage of the head with the oil they produce abundant hair.

Amla Oil

Indian gooseberry oil, prepared by boiling dry pieces of Indian gooseberry in coconut oil, is considered a valuable hair tonic for enriching hair growth. A mixture of an equal amount of fresh juice of Indian gooseberry and lemon juice, used as a shampoo also stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin B complex, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, choline and inositol must be taken regularly by men whose hair is away or fall.

Aromatherapy

A scalp massage with essential oils such as fenugreek, ginger, cypress, lavender and rosemary are suggested to help with hair loss. Mix 2 drops of essential oil 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of carrier oil such as jojoba.

Amalaki oil made by boiling dry pieces of coconut oil amalaki is considered useful hair tonic for enriching hair growth. A mixture of an equal amount of fresh amalaki juice and lemon juice, used as shampoo also causes hair growth and prevents hair loss.

Read added on Hair Protein Shampoo and Anti Dandruff Added advice about Hair Loss Remedies

Getting to the Root of Alopecia Areata

One of the most difficult things about treating hair loss is that it is not actually a single, readily recognizable condition with a clear cause.  Instead, hair loss can be the result of a variety of different factors, ranging from genetics to underlying illnesses to complicated environmental factors.  That is why Dr. Edmond Griffin and […]
The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration & Research

How to Afford the Alopecia Areata Wig – Part 3

How to Afford the Alopecia Areata Wig - Part 3

Smart Wig Saving with a Personal Plan of Action

In the past two posts we talked about   strategies that you can use to save up enough money to get the wig or cranial prosthesis that you want. But, these notions are only notions if you don’t chart out a plan and put it into action. Follow step by step to chart the course between you and the hair that you want without credit card debt.
 


Alopecia Areata Support Network Blog

alopecia areata + gluten + steroids

a lot of people have a lot of opinions about gluten. perhaps not surprisingly, since i started blogging about my adventures with alopecia areata, a lot of people have told me i should try giving up gluten. due to my intense love of / addiction to gluten, i mostly laughed in these peoples faces (or to my computer if the comment was online). fast forward to two weeks ago when i started seeing a new naturopath. after an hour of her asking me questions about my health, my diet and my poop, she suggested that despite having no other obvious symptoms, i might actually have celiac disease. when she mentioned that celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder, the worlds largest, brightest lightbulb exploded above my head. my mom was diagnosed with celiac disease when she was a teen. i’ve always known this, but had no idea it was an auto-immune disorder and had never made the connection between her disease and my alopecia. my naturopath told me there’s a simple blood test that can determine whether or not someone has celiac disease. i did the blood work that day, stopped eating gluten that night and felt the most relief i’d felt in a long arse time that maybe somebody (whom i’d just met, no less) had solved all my alopecia problems.

after two weeks of not eating gluten (and awkwardly staring at people as they ate gluten), my test results came back negative. the good news is that i don’t have celiac disease! the bad news is that i still have alopecia areata.

my naturopath has suggested i try an anti-inflammatory diet consisting of lots of lean protein, veggies, fruits and beans, as well as exercising more and spazzing less. good luck, lindsay.

she’s also tweaked my vitamin regimen a bit. check it:

natural factors, zinc citrate 50mg / day
nutrasea hp (high concentrate fish oil), 2 tsp / day
vitamin d, 4000 iu / day
thorne, ferrasorb (iron) 2 / day
natural factors, vitamin c, 1000mg / day
natural factors, biotin 300mcg / day

plus
he shou wu (from my tcm practitioner).

i’ve actually decided to stay off gluten. i’ve never been a farty person (i swear) but my stomach is totally silent since i’ve stopped eating gluten. downside, no more embarrassing stomach sounds during meetings at work.

in other news, my dermatologist is a little worried that my bald spots seem to be increasing. my hair is growing back much quicker with the cortisone injections, but he recommended 10 days of oral steroids to stop this round of alopecia areata and get some new hair sprouts, sproutin’. i told him i’d have to think about it, as roids sound kind of terrifying (side effects include being extra spazzy and eating everything insight). i mentioned the roids to my naturopath, and much to my surprise she was actually quite supportive of it. i see my dermatologist again at the end of february… i’ll decide about the roids then based on how much hair has collected in my shower drain.
the alopecia project.

Alopecia Areata Clinical Trials at Mount Sinai in New York

Alopecia Areata Clinical Trials at Mount Sinai in New York
 
Alopecia Areata research is of great interest to people with this autoimmune skin disorder. This Bald Girls Do Lunch blog informs you with patient-friendly posts on alopecia areata news, clinical trials and popular posts like our features on  Tofacitinib and Ruxolitinib. I n 2016, we’re launching a series of interviews to learn about several new clinical trials underway at  the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in conjunction with the Mount Sinai  Department of Dermatology (New York, NY).


Alopecia Areata Support Network Blog