What exactly is alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata is a medical condition that causes a person to lose patches of hair. This arises when your immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing hair loss. Alopecia can develop during childhood or adulthood and is unique to each individual.
Who can be affected?
Alopecia can affect anyone; however, your chances of developing it are slightly higher if you have a relative who has the condition. Furthermore, it is more common in people with autoimmune disorders such as diabetes, lupus, or thyroid disease.
Causes and symptoms of alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease which causes the body’s immune system to attack the hair follicles on the scalp. When this happens, the person’s hair begins to fall out, often in coin-sized clumps.
It is thought that a person’s genetic makeup, in conjunction with a virus or substance the person comes into contact with, may trigger the autoimmune reaction of alopecia areata.
It is a fickle disease. Hair grows back and remains in some people while falling out again in others. Each case is distinct. Even if a person loses all of his or her hair, there’s a chance of growing back.
What is the treatment for alopecia?
Alopecia areata cannot be cured, but it can be treated, and hair can regrow.
Alopecia is frequently treated with drugs used for other conditions. The treatment options include:
● Corticosteroids: These are anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat autoimmune diseases. Corticosteroids can be administered intravenously (as a shot into the scalp or other areas), orally (as a pill), or topically (rubbed into the skin) as an ointment, cream, or foam.
● Rogaine ® (minoxidil): This topical medication is already used to treat pattern baldness. Hair usually begins to grow after about 12 weeks of Rogaine treatment.
● Other drugs used to treat alopecia with varying degrees of effectiveness include psoriasis medications and topical sensitisers (drugs applied to the skin leading to an allergic reaction which causes hair growth).
Living with alopecia:
Aside from drug treatments, people can try various cosmetic and protective techniques available for alopecia. Examples include:
● Makeup can be used to conceal hair loss
● Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes (especially if you have lost eyelashes)
● Wear head coverings (wigs, hats, or scarves) to protect your head
● Consume a well-balanced diet: Hair growth is a process that requires vitamins and minerals. People who follow fad diets frequently experience hair loss (though this is not always due to alopecia).
● Try scalp micropigmentation: During micropigmentation of the scalp, small dots that mimic hair follicles are created to cover the area where you have lost hair. This gives an instant illusion of fuller hair.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing hair loss due to alopecia areata, it can greatly impact your confidence. Fortunately, at Sculltec, our experienced and certified practitioners provide the best solution for managing alopecia without breaking the bank. We offer scalp micropigmentation as an effective solution for hair loss of any kind. To explore our services or consult our experts, visit our website today!
