![]() Minoxidil does not stop the disease process so stopping applications after hair has started to grow back may cause the hair to fall out again. Minoxidil has been used to promote hair growth and has shown cosmetically acceptable results in 30% of cases. The main side effect from any steroid use is thinning of the skin. Initial regrowth of hair can be seen in 4-8 weeks and treatments are repeated every 4-6 weeks. Usually, the first-line therapy is injection of a steroid into the involved scalp skin. It may take several months for the hair to grow back using this method. Another option is applying a strong topical steroid to the patch. ![]() If the patch of hair loss is small, it is reasonable to observe it and allow the hair to regrow on its own. There are several different treatment options for alopecia areata. Secondary syphilis – causing a “moth-eaten” baldness pattern over the entire scalp.Trichotillomania – manually pulling the hair out caused by a psychological disorder.Androgenic alopecia – also known as male-pattern baldness.Telogen effluvium – generalized hair loss caused by pregnancy, certain drugs, high fever, or stress.Other diseases that may be mistaken for alopecia areata include: In the majority of patients, the hair will regrow completely within 1 year without any treatment. Alopecia universalis is the loss of 100% of body hair. Alopecia totalis is the loss of 100% of scalp hair. Others may have more extensive involvement. Some people lose hair in only a small patch. The progress of alopecia areata is unpredictable. Some people may experience a slight burning or tingling in the area of hair loss. Pulling slightly on these hairs causes them to fall out. These are broken, short hairs that taper at the base. “Exclamation-mark” hairs may be seen at the margin of the patch. The characteristic patch of alopecia areata is usually round or oval, and is completely bald and smooth. In alopecia areata, something causes all the hairs in a certain area to enter the telogen or catagen stage at the same time. ![]() Normally hairs are going through these stages at random and the growing hairs on the rest of the head outnumber the hairs that fall out. In the catagen stage the hair follicle stops growing and in the telogen stage it falls out. Hair loss occurs because the hair follicles in a discreet area all enter the telogen or late catagen stage of hair growth. Some studies show that emotional stress may also cause alopecia areata. Certain chemicals that are a part of the immune system called cytokines may play a role in alopecia areata by inhibiting hair follicle growth. Alopecia areata appears to also have an autoimmune factor causing the patient to develop antibodies to different hair follicle structures. Genetic factors seem to play an important role since there is a higher frequency of a family history of alopecia areata in people who are affected. There are several different hypotheses as to what causes alopecia areata. Research is ongoing to determine the best treatment for this sometimes-striking disease. In some cases it is associated with other diseases, but most of the time it is not. The reason alopecia areata occurs is not completely known. Any hair-bearing surface can be affected, but the most noticeable surface is the scalp. Alopecia Areata is a hair loss condition characterized by the rapid onset of hair loss in a sharply defined area.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |