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There are different forms of hair loss
in different people; and one such form
of hair loss is alopecia areata where
there is hair loss in different parts
of the body. The scalp is most affected
by alopecia areata and since it cases
bald spots on the head in the first stages,
it is also referred to as spot baldness.
If the entire scalp turns bald, then the
condition is referred to as alopecia totalis.
Alopecia areata is very sudden and
often drastic condition where the patient’s
own immune cells tend to fight their
hair growing tissue for no reason. There
is usually a trigger for this, like
a virus.
Alopecia areata occurs in three stages
where the first one is sudden hair loss
which may appear minimal at first. This
is followed by an enlargement of the
bald area with increased hair loss.
The last stage is where new hair
grows to replace the lost hair,
which varies with individuals. Some
people may start growing hair in weeks,
some in months and some, after a year
too. Seldom is there any re-growth
of hair at all.
It is natural for one to get frightened
when there is hair loss in other parts
of the body, like eyebrows and eyelashes,
when suffering from alopecia areata.
However it should be remembered that
this is a temporary condition, and that
the hair will re-grow after some time.
Most people think that the stress,
some medication and a poor diet are
the causes for alopecia areata; however
doctors have no proof for this. In fact,
doctors don’t know the cause for
the patient’s immune cells to
turn on the body and bring about this
condition. They only know that alopecia
areata is hereditary, and is not contagious.
The main course of treatment for alopecia
areata is patience, while cortisone
shots are useful in promoting and stimulating
hair growth. These shots are successful
in patients suffering from alopecia
areata, but are painful. Twenty to thirty
shots are required for each patch of
hair loss, once a month. However this
treatment is effective only on the immediate
area that is injected, and does not
stimulate hair growth in other bald
areas.
However this form of treatment is not
guaranteed by doctors as it depends
on the individual and the body’s
response to the medication. Sometimes
a prescription cortisone cream offers
a good solution which is not painful,
and can be applied at home.
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