Hair loss is becoming one of the problematic issues in human health nowadays and the reasons are innumerable. Food, water, climate, and seasonal changes like heat and humidity are the major reasons for hair fall. It can not only affect just the hair on your head but the hair on your whole body as well.
Other than those external problems mentioned, hair loss can also occur because of heredity, hormonal changes, and medical conditions like cancer, heart problems, depression, or aging. Hereditary hair loss is called Alopecia.
Hair loss may develop over years or happen suddenly. It can be permanent hair loss or also temporary. There are several treatments for alopecia in Pune – Maharashtra and other parts of India as well. Let’s take a look at the causes, symptoms, and treatments for alopecia.
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What is Alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata is a hair loss condition that makes hair fall out in many small round patches. It is an autoimmune disorder. This condition develops when the immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicle on any part of your body. Hair loss may occur in the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or anywhere on your body.
The cells in your immune system surround and attack the hair follicle which causes the attached hair to fall out. When the attack grows more you will experience more hair loss and bald patches.
The condition can also result in total hair loss which is called Alopecia Universalis and this may result in permanent hair loss. But when the immune system attacks hair follicles, it only damages it and doesn’t destroy the follicle completely.
So your hair will regrow if you haven’t faced severe hair loss. If you have faced severe hair loss because of alopecia areata, even if the hair grows back, it will eventually fall out again.
Causes of hair loss and Alopecia areata
Some of the most common causes of hair loss are:
- Hereditary baldness
- Hormonal imbalance
- Illness
- Surgeries
- Pregnancy
- Poor diet
- Thyroid
- Menopause
- Scalp infections
- Alopecia areata
- Cancer
- Blood pressure
- Depression
- Sudden weight loss
Causes of alopecia areata
Autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata, sclerosis, and arthritis are caused because of Vitamin D deficiency. And some other causes are:
- Asthma
- Hay fever
- Atopic dermatitis
- Vitiligo
- Thyroid
Symptoms of hair loss and alopecia areata
Gradual thinning of hair
This is a common symptom of hair loss in terms of aging for both men and women. Hair starts falling or thinning at the hairline on the forehead for men. For women, broadening can happen at any part of their hairline called frontal fibrosing alopecia.
Round patchy bald spots
This is a major symptom of alopecia areata. Small circular baldness may occur in the scalp, eyebrows, or any part of your body. Soon the patches will grow bigger causing baldness.
Loosening of hair
You may suddenly experience heavy hair fall and your hair will loosen and fall even when a very light force is applied. This is often because of stress and it’s temporary.
Scaling on scalp
This happens because of ringworms. It may cause rashes, redness, and swelling.
Treatments
Some hair loss conditions can be cured but alopecia areata has no permanent cure. But with some treatments hair growth can be made faster so the hair loss won’t affect. These are some of the treatments for alopecia in Pune and also in other parts of India.
Topical treatments
Topical treatments involve applying medications on your scalp. The medications are:
Rogaine: It is prescribed to apply twice on the affected area. It is not effective for people affected with severe alopecia areata.
Corticosteroids: It is available in the form of creams, ointments, lotions, and foams. It decreases inflammation.
Topical immunotherapy: In this treatment chemical like Diphencyprone is applied to the affected area to create an allergic rash. This rash will help in the regrowth of new hair.
Vaccines
Steroids are injected into the affected area to stimulate hair growth. This treatment applies to mild alopecia. It will help for the regrowth of hair in the affected area but it will not stop new hair loss.
Oral medications
Tablets with methotrexate and cyclosporine help to block the immune system from attacking the follicle. But it cannot stop the attack permanently or for too long because it can cause side effects like high blood pressure and kidney damage.
Photochemotherapy
This treatment is also called light therapy. It’s a radiation treatment that uses UV light and psoralens as oral medication.
Hair transplant surgery
This treatment involves plugging of skin with few hairs to the bald spots of your scalp. This treatment is effective for people with hereditary baldness
Natural treatments
You can also the therapies below to treat alopecia.
- Aromatherapy
- Acupuncture
- Micro-needling
- Essential oil massages
- Vitamins like zinc, and biotin.
- Herbal supplements like ginseng and green tea.
