Alopecia: More Than Normal Hair Loss
Hair loss can be embarrassing, concerning, and can even be a sign of a health problem. Hair might start to show up on your pillow, more of it is in the hairbrush, in the shower drain, and in some cases small bald spots have become noticeable.
A possible cause of this excess hair loss could be from a condition called alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disorder. This type of hair loss can also be called spot baldness. In this case, the immune system has started to attack the hair follicles. Hair can start to fall out in clumps that can even be the size of a quarter. Some might only lose hair in a few spots, while others might see this phenomenon all over their scalp. Hair loss might just occur on the scalp or it can occur over the entire body. Most people appear to be overall generally healthy, but then sudden hair loss occurs. For some, hair loss comes and goes and regrows itself each occurrence, however, for others the hair loss can be permanent.
A dermatologist is the type of doctor to seek treatment for help. He or she might perform blood work and examine some of the hair. Unfortunately, alopecia areata cannot be cured. It can, however, be treated to help the hair grow back. Treatment might include topical immunotherapy which involves applying chemicals to the scalp. These chemicals will actually cause an allergic reaction if they work and it is that reaction that causes the hair to grow back. Corticosteroids can also be used. These are prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs which can come in the form of injections that can be made into the scalp, given as pill form, or applied as an ointment or cream. Minoxidil, most commonly known as Rogaine, can be applied to the scalp and usually takes abut 12 weeks for the hair to start to grow again.
Like many other autoimmune disorders, causality differs and is not always evident. For those who have alopecia areata, there are some lifestyle changes to help. Stress seems to trigger this condition, therefore, one should aim to reduce their personal troubles a well as feelings of anxiety and sadness. It is important to remember that the lost hair can grow back, depending on what your immune system will allow. Fortunately, life can still carry on with or without hair and success comes in all types of packages, hair and hairless.
Sources:
https://www.jidsponline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)52936-9/fulltext
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372932
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20372926
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2703143/
