Alopecia areata Treatment: An Overview

What is Alopecia areata?

Alopecia areata is a disease where you lose locks of hair from your scalp. It happens when the immune system starts seeing them as foreign elements and attacking them. Even though age and gender do not matter in this disease, it affects mostly those below 20. The extent of the trouble may vary from person to person. Sometimes, clumps of hair fall out and certain parts of the scull become smooth and shiny. Your hair may even grow white and thin. There are also instances where stubs remain on the scalp. Whatever is your condition, there is no permanent cure for the trouble.

Diagnosis

Dermatologists make use of various strategies to diagnose Alopecia areata. At times, looking at the hair will confirm the disease. The doctor may even pull out a few hairs and inspect them under a microscope. Biopsy is another form of diagnosis. Here, a bit of skin is taken to do a thorough study into the cause of your disease. You may also be asked to undergo a blood test to rule out the possibility of similar autoimmune diseases.

Alopecia areata treatment

The effectiveness of the treatments for these diseases is relative. And, there is no scientific proof to establish that one medication is better than the others. To be honest, no treatment is going to cure the disorder for good. The condition presents contrasting scenarios. While the hair may reappear within no time for certain patients, the process is quite slow for the others. There are also instances where the hair does not reappear at all. Still, doctors treat the disease based on the seriousness of the condition and the age of the sufferer. Following are the medications generally used for the purpose.

• Corticosteroid injections: This is known to be the most effective treatment available for Alopecia areata. The steroids contained in the injections suppress your immune system thereby preventing it from attacking your hair follicles. The bad thing is that the disease does not remain confined to one’s scalp. It may affect the other parts of one’s body like eyebrows. Fortunately, these injections can bring you relief. They not only protect your hair from your immune system, but also boost their re-growth. The treatment is given at an interval of 4-6 weeks. Once the injections are stopped, the disease comes back.
• Minoxidil lotion: This is recommended for baldness. But, there are no scientific evidences to suggest that it will work for Alopecia areata. You are required to apply the lotion onto your scalp for a time of 42 days. Upon completing the course, hair starts re-growing. However, you have to wait for an entire year before you are able to see a visible improvement in your condition. Besides, it is not recommended for those below 18.

The industry offers a wide array of options in Alopecia areata treatment. You just have to remain consistent and go as your physician instructs in this regard.