What is Alopecia?
June 2nd, 2008 Filed Under General
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Alopecia is the medical term for what we all know as hair loss. This is not an illness it is simply a condition. It doesn’t affect the health of a person since most Alopecia sufferers are healthy and it doesn’t have any complications. But this doesn’t mean though that Alopecia should be taken lightly.
Alopecia is a condition that mostly has an effect on a person’s emotional well-being. Losing hair, usually in the scalp although some have experienced hair loss in other parts of the body, can be a tremendous blow to one’s self esteem and usually, a person lose confidence and find the situation embarrassing.
Alopecia generally starts with thinning hair on a certain spot. This is what we commonly call as a bald spot. For some people, this condition just cures itself and unfortunately, there is no known cure yet. But there are treatments available which can help stimulate hair growth, thus allowing hair to grow into the balding spot. But when treatment is discontinued, the bald spot will once again grow.
Also, it is still unknown what is causing alopecia to occur. Most experts agree that this is an autoimmune condition, whereas, a trigger occurs and the immune system attacks the hair follicles disallowing them to grow hair. Experts also agree that Alopecia can be hereditary. One in every five Alopecia sufferers has the condition in their family.
Alopecia treatments may vary depending upon the severity of the condition and the age of the afflicted person. It is highly recommended that a diagnosis should be done first by a qualified Alopecia expert.
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Treat Alopecia Areata and Say Goodbye to Hair Loss
May 27th, 2008 Filed Under General
Have you noticed some round patches of hair loss in your body? Usually in the scalp, this patchy loss of hair can take form in any shape but they are usually spots or round formations. This condition is called Alopecia Areata. Occurring to about 2 percent of the world population, Alopecia Areata can happen to both sexes, male and female.
Usually, Alopecia Areata happens only in a small area in any hair growing part of the skin, sometimes though multiple spots can occur and in rare cases, Alopecia Areata Totalis, loss of all scalp hair can happen. Even rarer is Alopecia Universalis, or total body hair loss may also happen stemming from Alopecia Areata.
For a lot of people, treating Alopecia Areata is very important, especially for cosmetic reasons. Hair loss can be a great source for embarrassment and loss of self esteem. Generally, to treat Alopecia Areata, one can make use of topical medications or steroidal injections.
Getting treatment for Alopecia Areata should first be preceded by the proper diagnosis from a qualified physician. Knowing what type of alopecia you have is detrimental so that the proper treatment will be administered.
There are numerous types of topical medication that can be used. Choosing the right one will be done by the physician after a diagnosis. This way, you will be able to fix the problem at a faster rate. Also, sometimes, steroid injections are not applicable for everyone. So be sure to get in touch with your doctor first before doing any treatment for Alopecia Areata.
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Stress and Alopecia: Are They Related?
May 22nd, 2008 Filed Under General
Does stress cause alopecia, or does alopecia cause stress? Hair loss can be very disturbing; it has numerous psychological effects to a person and can be seen as a huge source of embarrassment and loss of self esteem. While stress has been related to many illnesses, researchers have not fully grasped the concept that stress can cause Alopecia; there is just not enough evidence to support this theory.
Many foundations have spent at least a couple of thousand of hours to prove or disprove this theory but no discovery has been solid enough to do so. If in the future stress is found to be a cause, then this would be a breakthrough as lowering stress that people can help a lot in preventing hair loss.
The type of stress that can cause hair loss is the stress on the hair follicles that happens when hair is tightly pulled. When there is extreme tension in the hair and the scalp, there is a huge contributing factor to hair loss, and sometimes this loss can be permanent. Having dreadlocks or tightly pulled pony tails are some of the examples of prolonged tension, pressure, and stress to the scalp and hair.
But if it is psychological and emotional stress, there is still no concrete evidence to show their involvement. But you don’t have to be stressed out about this, it would be better if stress is not involved as losing hair is already distressing enough. So don’t lose hair about it.
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Patch Alopecia, Hair Loss in Patches
May 16th, 2008 Filed Under General
Losing one’s hair can be devastating. Usually, people would be ashamed of their hair loss and would find ways to retrieve their lost hair or at the least cover up the balding area. Loss of hair is not instantaneous. They often start in patches or spots, commonly called bald spots. In the medical world this is called Alopecia.
According to medical research and study, the cause of Patch Alopecia cannot be fully determined yet. But it is thought that this happens due to a trigger that pushes the body’s immune system to attack our hair follicles.
Patch of baldness or Alopecia can become severe in the long run. Not all people though experience this and total alopecia is somewhat rare. Curing Patch Alopecia is impossibility as of now, but there are treatments available which can reinvigorate hair growth and counter the effects of this hair condition. The good news is, Patch Alopecia cures itself, although this varies from every person, so continuous treatment is advised so that hair re-growth is not hampered.
Treatment will vary depending on the extent of the damage and the age of the person. It is highly advisable that only a certified expert on the matter will be trusted with the diagnosis and the treatment of the condition.
We also have to understand that patch alopecia doesn’t only happen in our scalp, although it is usually found there. It can also go down to our eye brows, lips, and other parts of the body where hair grows.
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The Definition of Alopecia
May 10th, 2008 Filed Under General
Alopecia can simply be defined in two words, Hair Loss. Alopecia is the description the medical field provides for the loss of hair from any part of the body, usually though this occurs in the scalp or the head. Most of the time, alopecia is an unwanted condition unlike those that get rid of hair from their body through cosmetic procedures for their vanity. The term Alopecia is a general use term.
Alopecia is subdivided into different types. Most common is the Alopecia Androgenica, from the male hormone androgen. This refers to the more commonly known male pattern baldness. Although it is generally believed in the medical community that DHT or Dihydro-testosterone and its rise in count is the cause for male pattern baldness, the availability of a cure or treatment to counter its rise in numbers is still far away. Female pattern baldness is also a rising problem with women and aging is considered to be one of its causes, other causes include ailments and diseases.
Other sub types of Alopecia include; Alopecia Areata, Androgenetic Alopecia, Alopecia Universalis, Traction Alopecia and a host of others. It is imperative that when trying to treat alopecia, the type of alopecia experienced is to be determined to formulate the proper procedure for its treatment.
Being inflicted with hair loss or alopecia can be very devastating to a person. Some lose self esteem and confidence and may suffer from slight depression. This can be a hinder to a person’s productivity. That is why it is imperative to find the proper cure to prevent the spread of Alopecia.
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Discovering the Causes of Alopecia
May 3rd, 2008 Filed Under General
Even though Alopecia afflicts millions of people around the world, researches and studies have not been fully matured to discover what actually causes alopecia to happen, and to develop a permanent cure to get rid of it. Many scientists and doctors have developed their own theories and many of them agree on one thing, although it is not yet decided as a fact.
Alopecia is generally believed to be caused by our own body’s autoimmune response. This means that our immune system, for some unknown reason is attacking the hair follicles causing them to stop producing hair. Although not all hair follicles are usually affected, there are some rare cases where all the scalp area or even all the epidermis is afflicted.
What actually triggers the immune system to go in hyper drive and attack the hair follicles is still a mystery. No one knows what this tyrigger is and if this trigger is started by an aoutside influence or is found inside the body.
Also, it has been noted that in about one in every five cases of Alopecia, the condition is hereditary. This means that Alopecia can be handed down and future family members, whether male or female can be affected.
Although there is no cure yet for this potentially embarrassing and self esteem destroying condition, there are some treatments that are available to at least regenerate hair growth. Consulting a doctor or a dermatologist is Imperative to find the treatment that will properly suit a certain condition of Alopecia.
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Alopecia Hair Loss Treatment: Your Options for Hair Re-Growth
April 28th, 2008 Filed Under General
Have you noticed your hair thinning? Do you see a bald spot? For men, especially women, loss of hair is a devastating experience. Hair, a person’s crowning glory, is usually well taken care of and is cut and style to make one look presentable. Losing hair is deemed as a sign of aging and many people don’t find this very attractive, especially if it happens to them.
Unfortunately though for millions of people who suffer from Alopecia, there is no cure yet for this condition. Most of the times, Alopecia may just cure itself, but until then, and if it does happen, you will just have to accept the fact that it is there. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t help yourself to have a full head of hair again. Alopecia usually happens in small patches and if detected early, there may still be some chance to revive hair growth.
With the proper Alopecia hair loss treatment, you will be able to stimulate your hair follicles to grow hair once again. Some of the more popular Alopecia hair loss treatment includes applying topical cream over the affected area. There are also solutions which include minoxidil that has been touted as effective.
Some cases would require cortisone injections and other prescription drugs to be massaged over the balding spot. It is highly adviced though that you should consult first an expert in Alopecia before undergoing any treatment. Proper diagnosis will ensure that the treatment used will be effective.
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Alopecia Cures: Is there Such a Thing?
April 23rd, 2008 Filed Under General
Sadly, there is no cure just yet for Alopecia. Although there have been many studies and research done, the cure is still elusive and one can only hope that the condition will just cure itself, which happens to a lot of inflicted people. But if not, there are various treatments that need to be constantly done to promote hair growth. If these treatments are halted, then loss of hair will continue.
So if you’re looking for a permanent cure for Alopecia, then I’m sorry, there is no such thing yet. But, using some of the available treatments for Alopecia today is far better than a patchy head or being totally bald. Choosing the proper treatment will be based on the age of the person inflicted with the condition and the extent of the hair loss.
The most common treatment is the injection of cortisone in the area where hair loss is experienced. Multiple injections will be done on the bare scalp areas and will be done once a month. Usually, it will take four weeks before new hair can be seen.
Another popular treatment is the application of Topical Minoxidil. Applied to the scalp area affected two times daily, this treatment may stimulate the re-growth of hair. The topical minoxidil should be a solution with either a composition of two to five percent minoxidil.
Anthalin ointment or cream is also another treatment popularly utilized. They are also applied to the affected area once daily and should be washed of after an hour or just thirty minutes.
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National Alopecia Areata Foundation: The Ultimate Source for Help and Information on Alopecia Areata
April 17th, 2008 Filed Under General
Alopecia Areata is the condition when a person develops hair loss in patches, sometimes; they can even go to the extent of removing all scalp and body hair. This condition is not transmittable but can be hereditary. Although it doesn’t affect the general well-being of a person, it can have copious effects on ones emotional properties.
That is why the Alopecia Areata Foundation, founded in California in 1981, is the world center for information and psychological help which many Alopecia Areata inflicted persons can rely on. It is also a center which helps gather funds to subsidize research for Alopecia Areata treatment and cure.
Anyone with Alopecia Areata can go to the Alopecia Areata Foundation and ask for information and other printed materials which can help them cope with living life with Alopecia Areata. There are counselors which can provide psychological help not only for the victim, but also for the family and friends around them.
One of their primary directives is to provide awareness programs which would allow people to understand Alopecia Areata better. This way, people inflicted with the condition will not be ridiculed and would receive the understanding, and not pity, that they need.
The Alopecia Areata Foundation also leads drives that would help push for better insurance laws with regards to Alopecia Areata inflicted persons and to also get the government’s aid in dealing with the condition. With about 2 percent of the entire population afflicted with this condition, or roughly 3 to 4 million, the Alopecia Areata Foundation is a great big help.
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The Quest for an Effective Alopecia Areata Cure
April 11th, 2008 Filed Under General
Although it has no clear and damaging effect to a person’s health, it is very understandable why millions of people who have been afflicted with Alopecia Areata are hoping, praying, that someday, and soon enough, a cure for this hair loss condition will be found. Even though there have been countless hours and millions of dollars have been poured out to discover a cure, there is still no Alopecia Areata cure in sight.
The next best thing as of now to an Alopecia Areata cure would be the numerous treatments that are being sold in the market. Whether they are cortisone injections, minoxidil, topical creams, and so on, these treatments can help stimulate hair growth to combat the effects of hair loss.
You see, in a number of cases, Alopecia Areata just cures itself. Alopecia Areata happens when a trigger sets of our body’s immune system and this tricks the system into thinking the hair follicles are the foreign objects in the body. They hamper hair production resulting to the loss of hair a person suffers. Because this trigger has not been fully discovered, the quest for Alopecia Areata cure can be very difficult.
It is imperative though that before submitting yourself to an Alopecia Areata treatment, you should always consult first a reliable dermatologist or physician. Some treatments do not agree with certain people and this may just worsen the situation. So if you have Alopecia Areata. Don’t fret, they may be hope for you yet.