Alopecia Areata Treatment

There are two main forms of this condition vary depending on the extent of hair loss and require different types of alopecia areata treatment. The mild form is less than 50% of the hair is lost from thinning patches on the scalp and the more severe conditions where more than 50% to 100% of hair is lost.

When the diagnosis of alopecia areata, it is useful to have some information about the disease. Alopecia areata is known as an autoimmune condition that can be very unpredictable and affects about 1.7% of the population. cells of the body white blood cells attack the hair follicles causing growth arrest. It usually starts with one or two small round bald patches on the scalp, but can develop into a total loss of hair, both on the scalp (alopecia totalis) and body (alopecia universalis). It is not known what triggers such attacks, whether the trigger comes from within, or outside as in the form of a virus.

Recent studies suggest that some people have genetic markers that increase both their susceptibility to the condition and its severity. One in five has provided a parent is also affected. This is particularly true among those who develop the disease before the age of 30 years. It is more common in families whose members also have conditions such as asthma, hay fever, eczema, thyroid disease, Addison's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, vitiligo, Addison's disease or pernicious anemia.

This condition occurs in people of all ages, races and can have psychological effects that are exacerbated by the fact that the public does not generally understand this condition. It is sudden and may reappear from time to time quite unpredictably.

There is no known cure for baldness and hair loss is a side effect of the underlying disease. Current treatment alopecia therefore work to stimulate hair follicles extent of which must be continued for the duration of the disease.

The mild form of the disease is treatable and most common form of treatment is to have monthly cortisone injections, injected directly into the bare scalp. They are usually quite painless giving a slight tingling sensation and have very few side effects such as minor skin depressions. This treatment is usually complimented with alopecia areata resistance above 5% topical minoxidil solution applied twice a day. Cortisone cream is sometimes used in combination with minoxidil for improved response and applied 30 minutes after applying minoxidil.

Another effective treatment is anthralin cream or ointment, a synthetic substance resembling tar widely used for the treatment of psoriasis. It is applied to the bare scalp once a day and there may be an irritant to the skin is usually only left on for 30-60 minute periods, then washed. effective treatments can stimulate new hair growth in eight to twelve weeks.

extensive alopecia areata is much more difficult to treat and local injections of cortisone into the scalp are not so effective. In some cases, cortisone pills are prescribed, they have a more powerful effect, but there is an increased risk of side effects after prolonged use. In general, they are not widely prescribed apart from young healthy adults who may have higher levels of tolerance for the drug. topical minoxidil 5% strength is still the most common alopecia areata treatment and effective even for extensive alopecia areata. Another method that is used frequently in Canada and Europe are called immunotherapy news. It uses chemicals diphencyprone (DPCP) or squaric acid dibutyl.