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Areata, Totalis And Universalis |
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Both alopecia totalis and
alopecia universalis are extreme forms of alopecia areata, and all
three types
are widely believed to be an autoimmune skin disease.
Since this is different from other forms of hair loss, the types of treatment available for them can also differ. |
Conventional alopecia Treatments
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Minoxidil -
This drug is better known as Rogaine in the USA, and Regaine in the UK.
Minoxidil may be used in certain cases of alopecia areata where hair loss is only small and patchy. But, the response to minoxidil is very limited should extensive hair loss have already occurred (as in totalis and universalis). |
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Surgery - Alopecia treatment using surgery normally means a hair transplant nowadays, but might still involve flap grafting, strip grafting, mini flap grafting or square grafting. Surgery could be used in alopecia areata cases where the hair loss suffered is small and patchy, but is not usually beneficial when hair loss occurs across the entire scalp. Also, given the unpredictable and recurrent nature of alopecia areata, other types of treatment might prove better options.
You can find out more about surgery as an option for alopecia treatment,
by reading this page - Hair transplants.
Alopecia treatments especially for
alopecia areata, totalis and universalis...
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Steroids - Corticosteroids are
powerful
anti-inflammatory drugs that suppress the immune system when given
orally. This means they can be used to treat various autoimmune diseases including alopecia areata. There are three forms of steroid alopecia treatment. Injections - Steroid injections directly into the bald patches of the scalp takes about 4 weeks for new hair growth to become visible. Injections deliver only a small amount, which avoids the serious side effects encountered with long-term oral use. However, injections can create swelling and are painful, so large areas can't be treated - the higher quantity of drug used would also risk side effects similar to those caused by oral treatment). Injections may be used when less than 60% of scalp hair has been lost. Orally - Corticosteroids might be used in more extensive cases of alopecia areata. But side effects can include hypertension and cataracts and so would only be used for a short period of time. Topical - Creams and ointments containing steroids can be rubbed directly onto the affected area. This method causes no pain but are less effective than injections - they work best when combined with other topical treatments such as minoxidil. Immunosuppressive drugs - As with steroids, immunosuppressive drugs can also be used to treat autoimmune diseases. Drugs such as azathioprine and cyclosporine will suppress the immune system and are mostly used to prevent rejection of organs in transplant operations. |
In theory, they could also stop the immune system rejecting the hair follicles as foreign bodies. But, should these drugs be taken orally, patients would have to be carefully monitored because their resistance to infection could fall and lead to serious illness.
They could be administered topically instead, thereby reducing such risks. Trials have, in fact, already taken place, although results were mixed.
Primula obconica - This plant has been known to cause an allergic reaction (i.e., skin rashes). Some success has been achieved by using the leaves of this plant in certain cases of alopecia areata.
Its application involves regularly strapping a Primula obconica leaf to the arm, and later, rubbing it onto the scalp! When used alongside weekly steroid injections, hair regrowth may begin after about a month (even in severe cases).
It would seem that this plant induces an allergic response, which may then deflect the white blood cells of the immune system to what the body considers a more serious outside threat.
PUVA (long-wave ultraviolet light) - Alopecia areata patients appear to have an excessive amount of "Langerhans" cells in their bodies (up to ten times more than normal in fact). PUVA can reduce can reduce or even eliminate Langerhans cells (which have been linked to alopecia areata) and restore hair growth.
The course of treatment typically involves up to five sessions each week (with at least 20 sessions required before any results begin to show).
Also, a photosensitising drug must be applied topically before each session (this causes a side effect where the patient must then avoid direct sunlight for a day or more). Unfortunately, other side effects may exist, and this treatment only results in temporary regrowth - the hair falling out again soon after treatment stops.
Other types of alopecia treatment
Other, less extreme but more unconventional forms of alopecia treatment (including those that may be dietary or herbal in nature) have also been developed, and these may be tried with some success for those suffering alopecia areata.
In the Uk, a case involving a 16 year old female with both alopecia areata and IBS
(irritable bowel syndrome) was reported to have had some success. By treating her IBS (by refining her diet and using probiotic supplements) hair regrowth was also achieved. It appears that, by alleviating the symptoms of IBS, the stress it caused was also reduced allowing hair regrowth to occur. This link to stress and diet was further supported when she stopped taking the supplement for a week causing her symptoms to return.
I developed my own method to stop the hair loss I suffered and restore healthy scalp hair growth, but this was for androgenetic alopecia, not alopecia areata. And, since it is not an autoimmune disease, it is unlikely to help those with alopecia areata.
For areata you will probably first need to find and successfully treat the underlying cause of your condition before any form of self-help alopecia treatment can be expected to help.
Coping with alopecia areata, totalis and universalis
Other forms of alopecia treatment can help you minimise the discomfort caused by lost hair. These include the following measures.
- Consider wigs, caps, and scarves to cover up from the sun and keep your head warm. Use sunscreen for the scalp, face, and all areas of the body where total hair loss has been suffered.
- Wear sunglasses regularly to protect your eyes from excessive sun, dust, etc if your eyebrow or eyelash hair has fallen.
- If nasal hair is missing, use antibiotic ointment to protect against organisms entering your body.
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