I was just curious if anyone had any information about alopecia, and if there is a cure for it. I have had it for a while, but this it the worst it has ever been. It is fairly deppressing for me and I would love to know if there is a cure or some sort of treatment.
2006-07-28 14:49:58 · 13 answers · asked by crystaldennis 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, which is where hair growth begins. Experts do not know why the immune system attacks the follicles. Alopecia areata is most common in people younger than 20, but children and adults of any age may be affected
Rarely, complete loss of scalp hair and body hair occurs. The hair loss often comes and goes—hair will grow back over several months in one area but will fall out in another area.
When alopecia areata results in patches of hair loss, the hair usually grows back in 6 months to 1 year. Although the new hair is usually the same color and texture as the rest of the hair, it sometimes is fine and white.
Because hair usually grows back within a year, you may decide not to treat alopecia areata.
If you choose not to treat the condition and wait for your hair to grow back, you may wish to:
Wear hairpieces or hair weaves. Hairpieces are made from human or synthetic hair that is implanted into a nylon netting. Hairpieces may be attached to the scalp with glue, metal clips, or tape. Hair weaving involves sewing or braiding pieces of longer hair into existing hair.
Use certain hair care products and styling techniques. Hair care products or perms may make hair appear thicker. Dyes may be used to color the scalp. However, continual use of perms or dyes may result in more hair loss.
The most common treatment for patchy hair loss is many injections of corticosteroids into the scalp, about 1 cm (0.4 in.) apart, every 4 to 6 weeks. Limited research reports that hair grows back at the site of injection in some people.
Contact immunotherapy may be the most effective treatment for severe alopecia areata. A medication is "painted" on the scalp once a week. Hair growth may appear within 3 months of beginning treatment. A review of research on contact immunotherapy notes that about half of those with severe alopecia areata had a good response, but how much hair grew back varied widely. Side effects of contact immunotherapy include a severe rash (contact dermatitis) and swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck.
Other medications used to treat alopecia areata include minoxidil (Rogaine), anthralin, and cyclosporine. Anthralin is sometimes used in combination with minoxidil. These medications affect the immune system and may stimulate hair growth, but they do not prevent hair loss.
2006-07-28 14:56:08 · answer #1 · answered by wildleopard1212 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-04 11:39:15 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2017-01-21 20:35:26 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi.
The WebMD link provided by another poster is good. Also check these links from about.com:
http://dermatology.about.com/cs/hairloss/a/alopeciaareata.htm
http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/2364.htm?terms=alopecia
Best! :-)
p.s. IMPORTANT NOTE regarding Prognosis of Alopecia Areata:
The progress of alopecia areata is unpredictable. Some people lose hair in only a small patch. Others may have more extensive involvement. Alopecia totalis is the loss of 100% of scalp hair. Alopecia universalis is the loss of 100% of body hair. These last two conditions are rare. In the majority of patients, the hair will regrow completely within 1 year without any treatment.
2006-07-28 14:59:27 · answer #4 · answered by Leon Spencer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alopecia is the medical term for baldness; there are various types of alopecia, including alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is a condition that causes a person's hair to fall out. It is an autoimmune disease; that is, the person's immune system attacks their body, in this case, their hair follicles. When this happens, the person's hair begins to fall out, often in clumps the size and shape of a quarter. The extent of the hair loss varies; in some cases, it is only in a few spots. In others, the hair loss can be greater.
2006-07-28 14:52:19 · answer #5 · answered by Rodanz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Which alopecia are you referring to? Pressure alopecia is treated differently than many others. Secondary is not treatable at all.
2006-07-28 17:49:57 · answer #6 · answered by Buzz s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alopecia? You mean baldness? Shave your head, put some sunblock on your scalp, and buy a T-shirt that says "God only made a few perfect heads. He put hair on the rest of them."
Live proud; live bald!
2006-07-28 14:53:51 · answer #7 · answered by ttogreh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard of it, and my son went to school with a little girl that had it, her mother told me that there isn't a cure, at times the girl's hair would grow, and then it comes back out..
It went on like that for the whole 2 years that my son was in classes with her, her mother went out and bought the little girl a wig to keep the kids from laughing at her..that is a very sad thing to go through
2006-07-28 14:53:19 · answer #8 · answered by lil bit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is that the hair loss thing? I had it when I was a kid 30 yrs ago or so... Yes, there is treatment for it...
2006-07-28 14:52:33 · answer #9 · answered by KnowhereMan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To my knowledge at the time there is still no cure, I believe though locks of love can provide you with a very realistic hair peice.
2006-07-28 14:53:28 · answer #10 · answered by KitKat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋