Alopecia Areata
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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