Alopecia Areata Causes & Treatment

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. This is a disease that causes hair to fall out in small smooth round patches. Alopecia areata rarely causes total hair loss, however it can prevent hair from growing back. The condition is not life threatening, does not cause pain or illness, but can become a cause of embarrassment for many. Hair loss and regrowth varies from person to person.

The main symptom of alopecia areata is loss of hair in small, round patches on the scalp. Other forms of alopecia include alopecia totalis, when the hair loss starts happening across the entire head and alopecia universalis, which causes total loss of all body hair.

Causes of Alopecia Areata:

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy cells which are meant to protect against foreign objects such as bacteria, viruses, and other germs. In autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakes part or parts of the body as foreign. This causes some mild inflammation which leads in some way to hairs becoming weak and falling out to cause the bald patches. If you have alopecia areata you also have a slightly higher than average chance of developing other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disorders, pernicious anaemia and vitiligo.

Treatment of Alopecia Areata

There is no known cure for alopecia areata, but you may be able to stop the loss of hair, or even grow it back naturally or with the aid of medication. However, it is important to note that there are no drugs approved to treat alopecia areata.

Medical treatment

Certain treatments can stimulate hair growth; however none can prevent further hair loss or cure the disease. Minoxidil can be rubbed into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Other therapies include corticosteroid creams, steroid injections or photochemotherapy, a treatment that uses a combination of oral medication and ultraviolet light.

Alternative therapies

People who do not wish to opt for medications go for aromatherapy, acupuncture, and herbal supplements and vitamins. Treatments do not work the same for every patient. Therefore, you may need to try more than one treatment to see a difference. Keep in mind that hair regrowth may only be temporary. Ultimately some patients do not even need hair loss treatment since their hair grows back on its own, while others never see improvement despite trying every option.

Hair accessories:

Hair accessories like extensions and wigs can help you to cover those bald patches which can lead to embarrassment. These extensions are easy to manage and do not require professional assistance. Once bought, these extensions can be used for a number of times without any issues. Human hair extensions blends with your hair perfectly giving them a natural look. You can style your extensions as per your wish.

Low Lever Laser Light Therapy:

Low Level Laser Therapy is one of the most effective and advanced hair loss treatments available helping men and women suffering from hairloss to achieve fuller and thicker hair. Being a non-invasive procedure, this is a quick therapy which requires no cuts or recovery time. This is the major reason that this therapy received a thumbs up from many users.