Diffuse Alopecia Areata Treatment

Alopecia Areata And Hair Loss - Types, Risks And Treatment

Alopecia Aleata is a form of hair loss that can be experience by both sexes. It covers four forms of hair loss related to the entire body with the risk and treatments covered below.

What is alopecia areata?

This disorder is characterized by loss of hair most often on the scalp. It has a fast onset that may be more significant on one side of the head than the other.

Unlike male pattern baldness, which is genetic in origin, alopecia areata is due to a malfunction of the immune system. The immune system wages war on body cells, specifically the hair follicles, which results in inhibition of hair growth.

Types:

There are different types of alopecia areata including:

Diffuse Alopecia Areata - Evidenced by hairless spots on the scalp

Alopecia Totalis - Marked by complete balding

Alopecia Universalis - Hair loss covering the entire body

Alopecia Areata Barbe - Loss of beard hair

What are the risks?

Those primarily at risk for Alopecia areata are adolescents, teens, and young adults. It is most often confused with other hair loss conditions, such as hair shedding after pregnancy and after discontinuation of hormone replacement treatment, or HRT.

The risk becomes greater in the presence of an autoimmune disorder.

In almost 50% of diagnosed cases, new hair growth will occur within 12 months without treatment. Any hair loss lasting longer than this period will likely be permanent.

What is the treatment?

There are a number of treatments available for alopecia areata designed to stop hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth. These treatments include:

Injection of steroid drugs, corticosteroid shampoos, topical treatment applications, such as creams, oils, and drops.

Alopecia Areata medications include:

Cyclosporine, minoxidil and anthralin.

There may be a need to combine different treatments to solve the problem, depending on the severity and duration of the hair loss.

It is possible that a main component of alopecia areata is emotional stress. Many people afflicted with this condition have reported stressful events in their lives that precluded the hair loss. Any subsequent situation that involved stress resulted in hair loss as well.

The hair loss of alopecia areata can be rapid. The risk of complete baldness is increased with delay in treatment. If you are having symptoms of hair loss, consultation with your health care provider can reverse hair loss and restore growth.

Next page: About Alopecia

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