Discover Everything About Alopecia Treatment

Nitin was a middle-aged man living in Mumbai. Over the past few weeks, Nitin has been noticing bald patches at different spots on his scalp. This made him panic at once, and he consulted a dermatologist for the same. The doctor confirmed that this is a clear sign of alopecia. Thousands of people across the globe are looking for an effective alopecia cure because much of our personality depends on our hair and no one wants to go bald!

If you were looking up treatment for alopecia, here is some guidance that you will appreciate. Alopecia, as you may already know, is an autoimmune ailment leading to unpredictable and rapid loss of hair.

Treatment for Alopecia

Alopecia areata treatment is especially important for many people since they suffer extreme hair loss and it leads to multiple smaller patches on the hand. Alopecia totalis is the complete hair loss phenomenon on the scalp or the whole body, which represents an extreme phenomenon called alopecia universalis. The issue impacts almost every individual, irrespective of his or her gender and age. Most cases usually take place before attaining 30 years of age.

Here are some key points worth noting with regard to treatment for alopecia:

• There is no direct cure for this condition. 
• However, doctors may recommend some alopecia areata medication including corticosteroids which help in tackling inflammation and keeping the immune system in check. These are usually given via ointments or injections.
• Some other medication types include Anthralin, Minoxidil, DPCP, and SADBE. While many of these help with hair re-growth, they cannot combat new bald spots from forming. 
• Photo-chemotherapy usage is backed by several reports and studies that offer possible options for those who are not inclined towards therapies of an invasive or systemic nature. 

Those with the condition should use sunscreen while outdoors in the heat and also safeguard their eyes. Headwear is important for those suffering from alopecia while they are out in the sun and they may also use ointments for moistening the nose membranes. Alopecia areata is not an infectious ailment and does not lead to any serious health risks. However, people usually find it harder to deal with the emotional complications arising from hair loss. 

Reasons behind Alopecia

• This takes place when the hair follicles and their inherent cells are targeted by white blood cells. 
• This makes them shrink suddenly, thereby slowing down overall production of hair drastically. 
• The actual reason behind the development is unknown. 
• Genetic reasons may lead to alopecia areata in many cases, especially for those with family members who have gone through the same ailment.
• Those with a family history of the condition may also have similar family history of other autoimmune ailments including Vitiligo, thyroiditis and so on. 
• Alopecia may or may not happen due to stress and researchers are still divided on this issue. 

Managing Alopecia at Home- Remedies Worth Trying

With conventional cures being of a limited nature, many reports recommend home and natural remedies for tackling alopecia. They include rubbing garlic or onion juice on the scalp and also using cool green tea instead. 

Other remedies include coating the scalp with coconut milk, rosemary oil, honey, and almond oil. Many individuals choose treatments like aromatherapy and acupuncture although there is no scientific proof of their effectiveness in this regard. 

Symptoms of Alopecia

The biggest symptom is always hair loss and bald patches forming on the scalp. However, alopecia may negatively impact any area with visible hair growth, including the eyelashes and even the beard. People may witness sudden and dramatic loss of hair over a few days and even some weeks. The areas may burn and itch prior to sudden hair loss. 

The hair follicles, however, may regenerate hair if inflammation is tackled. Those who sometimes lose only a few hair patches often make full recoveries without any particular treatment. Some individuals witness constant hair losses and re-growth and the same cycle keeps on occurring. Alopecia areata may sometimes impact the toenails and fingernails alike. They may start losing shine, get thinner and start splitting. Other symptoms include the appearance of white lines or spots and even dents. The nails may also become rougher due to alopecia. 

Some other symptoms described by doctors include hairs resembling exclamation marks, i.e. some smaller hairs which are narrow at the bottom and grow near bald patches. They also talk about white hair that grows in affected zones and cadaver hair that keeps breaking before reaching the surface of the skin. 

Conclusion

Doctors mostly diagnose the condition promptly with the help of varying symptoms. They may also examine the overall levels of hair loss and put some strands under the microscope for further diagnosis. 

If no diagnosis is possible after the initial examination, then a skin biopsy may be needed. A blood test may also be done for finding out the presence of any additional autoimmune disorders. Alopecia areata is not a medically threatening condition, although it may occur suddenly for most individuals. The key is to watch out for the appearance of any symptoms and consult the doctor without any delays.