The Fundamentals Of Alopecia Areata

For Individuals Who Do Not Pursue Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for alopecia areata, however, there are numerous treatment options available that can quickly heal the affected areas, and provide the individual with a sense of normalcy. Most individuals who experience one episode of hair loss will have more episodes within the future, however, since the fallen hair will grow back within a year or less, many patients often decide not to treat it.

If left untreated, patients can deal with the temporary hair loss by wearing hair pieces, such as wigs or extensions, however, hair weaving is not recommended to cover the bald spots as it requires sewing or braiding pieces of hair into the existing hair, which may cause permanent hair loss in certain areas. Individuals can also try specific hair care products and styling techniques to conceal bald spots, but continued use of perms or dyes may result in further hair loss.

Treatment Options Available To Patients

For patients who do decide to treat this syndrome, the most common treatment for patchy hair loss is injections of corticosteroids into the scalp or skin, approximately one centimeter apart, every four to six weeks. Corticosteroids are also available in a topical cream patients can apply to the affected skin, and minoxidil or Rogaine can be used along with the topical form. Anthralin is another common treatment, and it is an ointment that can help regrow hair within two months or more. This ointment appears and feels like tar, and its side effects include possibly irritating and staining the skin. Therefore, it is only applied to bare patches on the scalp for a short period, then washed off.

Contact immunotherapy is also another medical treatment used that can produce an allergic reaction on the scalp and may aid in hair regrowth. Essentially, contact immunotherapy is a medicine ‘painted’ on or applied to the scalp once a week, which irritates the skin, resulting in it becoming red and scale-like. On a positive note, hair growth may appear within three months of using this treatment, however, the negative side effects include a severe rash developing, known as contact dermatitis, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.