Alopecia Areata

People suffering from this condition can rely on Minoxidil, Anthralin, SADBE, and DPCP to reduce the rate of hair fall and also stimulate hair growth in a few instances.

Table Of Content

What are the types of alopecia areata?

Causes of  Alopecia Areata

Best Treatment for Alopecia Areata

Treatments for Mild Alopecia Areata

Treatments for Extensive Alopecia Areata

What are the types of alopecia areata?

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks its own hair. It is seen in the form of localized, well-demarcated patches of hair loss. Often, they are suddenly noticed, and they may progress circumferentially. There may be one patch or multiple bald patches. Alopecia areata is a common form of non-scarring alopecia involving the scalp and/or body, characterized by hair loss without any clinical inflammatory signs.

• Small bald patches may merge and form larger patches 
• The most commonly affected region is the scalp (90% of the individuals see hair loss on the scalp) but hair loss may be experienced on any part of the body.
• AA can be classified based on the extent and pattern of hair loss.
• Hair loss can be patchy.
• Alopecia Totalis (AT) leads to loss of hair from the entire scalp and body, which means hair loss is seen on the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, axillary hair, and pubic hair.
• Alopecia Universalis (AU) is the total loss of body hair.
• 5-10% of patchy AA may progress to AT/AU.%. 
• The pattern of hair loss can be reticular, ophiasis, and sisaipho. Ophiasis (snake-like) is a band-like alopecia areata along the posterior occipital and temporal margins. Sisaipho, also known as ophiasis inversus, leads to loss of hair from the frontal, temporal, and parietal scalp but hair growth can be seen on the scalp periphery.

Causes of  Alopecia Areata

This condition affects both men and women although it is found more frequently in women. In most cases, a person suffering from this condition also has a family member with the same condition.

The chief cause of alopecia is an autoimmune reaction of the body against its own hair cells treating them as a foreign body. It means that the body develops a reaction and fights the hair cells which then fall off.

Best Treatment for Alopecia Areata

Although there is no cure or treatment that works for everyone. Depending on the type of alopecia areata, the severity & condition, age, and the extent of hair loss, some treatments are very effective on some people.

You might ask if there is no cure then what good are the treatments? Well, the prime goals of these therapies are to stop hair loss and to help regrow hair. 

The various treatments and procedures that are known to cure Alopecia Areata are corticosteroid topical creams & immunosuppressive creams, commonly known as alopecia topical treatments, intra-lesion drug injections, cryotherapy etc.

The non-invasive treatment options are:

• Corticosteroids: Prescribed in the form of an injection, ointment, or oral medicine. Some topical corticosteroids for alopecia areata are Minoxidil, Rogaine, Aldactone etc.
• OTC drugs: Drugs like Minoxidil, Anthralin, clobetasol, and immunosuppressants like Methotrexate are recommended.
• Injections: Injections filled with steroids and immunosuppressants are also used to treat this condition.

Natural or alternative treatments and home remedies

Naturally boosting the immunity of the body to fight off the condition is also recommended. Including the intake of probiotics and topical application of aloe vera, and onion can also be helpful.

• Aromatherapy and Acupuncture to the affected areas are known to show significant results.
• Zinc and Biotin intake through diet is effective. Zinc and Biotin play a major role in hair tissue repair and growth. They help keep the oil glands in check, especially the ones located around the follicles. Hair loss is usually a symptom of zinc and biotin deficiency, zinc supplements can help reduce hair loss and support healthy regrowth. You can get your zinc intake from food like spinach, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, oysters, and so on. 
• Massaging with Coconut oil, castor oil, Jojoba Oil, tea-tree oil, peppermint oil, and rosemary oil is often recommended. 
• Massaging the affected area with Onion Juice is also a good practice.
• A diet-based approach that focuses on revitalizing the auto-immune protocol is good. This diet focuses on the inclusion of a variety of meat with a combination of different vegetables to catalyze hair growth.
• Photochemotherapy is also recommended as a method of treating this condition. However, the rate of effectiveness and success in the procedure differs on a case-to-case basis. Hence, it is advisable to consult some of the best alopecia areata specialists in Pune before considering this option.

Treatments for Mild Alopecia Areata

Intralesional Corticosteroid Injections

In this treatment, an intralesional steroid is injected directly into a lesion on or immediately below the skin. The use of this injection yields new hair growth which is usually visible within four weeks.

Who Should Try This?

People suffering from mild Alopecia Areata can take this as its effect is temporary and often mild Alopecia condition improves after using it. If bald patches reappear, they can be reinjected.

Topical Minoxidil

Topical minoxidil is used in the treatment of hair loss for both males and females. It is also used to treat alopecia, hair fall due to chemotherapy, or after-effects of hair replacement surgery. It’s recommended that adults use one milliliter to the scalp, two times a day. If it’s meant for children, then the use and dose should be determined by a doctor.

Who Should Try This?

A few of the side effects of using Minoxidil are scalp itching, dryness, scaling, flaking, irritation, or burning. If you have alopecia, then inform your doctor about all your medical history including what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking at present. If you have no heart condition or any other preexisting conditions, you can be prescribed Minoxidil.

Anthralin Cream or Ointment

This ointment is used for the treatment of long-term psoriasis. The cream is a tar-like substance applied to the hairless patches for an hour or so and then washed off. Anthralin Cream slows down the growth of skin cells (of the patch). It is recommended not to use it if the skin is inflamed or irritated.

Who Should Try This?

Hair regrowth is a slow process and this cream will only work in mild Alopecia as there is a possibility of new hair growth in the affected skin patch.

Treatments for Extensive Alopecia Areata

Oral Corticosteroids

Corticosteroid pills are sometimes prescribed for extensive scalp hair loss such as alopecia totalis and alopecia Universalis, to suppress disease activity and regrow hair.

Who Should Try This?

Corticosteroid pills have some side effects. Young adults can usually tolerate it but not adults or aged persons. Also, if you have other conditions like high blood pressure or a weak immune system, then do not opt for this medication.

Topical Immunotherapy

It is one of the best treatments for alopecia areata and is a highly effective therapy for the same. Doctors believe that it should be the first-choice treatment in adults with Alopecia with scalp patches greater than 50%.

Who Should Try This?

People with weak immunity should definitely go for this therapy. Approximately 40% of patients treated with topical immunotherapy get a better result. Within 6 months, they can see hair regrowth.

Treatment Options for Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is a common form of hair loss in both men and women. AGA is a result of genetic predisposition as well as androgen-related. Androgenic Alopecia treatment consists of oral medications, topical applications, procedures like LLLT, and surgeries such as hair transplantation.