Treatments For Alopecia Areata

Treatments For Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body's immune system attacks itself. When Alopecia areata develops, the body attacks its own hair follicles. A person's genetic makeup, combined with other factors, triggers this form of hair loss. People with alopecia areata may have a higher risk for asthma and allergies, mainly atopic dermatitis (more commonly called eczema) and hay fever (nasal allergies), also another autoimmune disease such as thyroid disease or vitiligo (patches of lighter skin appear) and type 1 diabetes.

People can have this type of hair loss at any age. It often begins in childhood. Some patients with alopecia have a family member who also has the disease. A dermatologist may prescribe one or more of the following to help the hair re-grow more quickly:

- Minoxidil: A hair re-growth medicine, minoxidil 5%, may help some patients re-grow their hair. Both children and adults can use it. Patients apply it twice a day to the scalp, brows, or beard. New hair may start to grow in about 3 months. Patients most often use this medicine with another alopecia treatment .

- Corticosteroids: This medicine suppresses the immune system. It can be given as shots, with the dermatologist injecting the medicine into the places with hair loss. Sometimes a patient gets a topical (applied to the skin) form of this medicine. It may be a cream, lotion, or ointment. The patient applies the medicine to the bare spots. Less often, patients take corticosteroid pills.

- Diphencyprone (DPCP): This medicine is applied to the bald skin. It causes a small allergic reaction. When the reaction occurs, a patient has redness, swelling, and itching. Dermatologists believe this allergic reaction tricks the immune system, causing it to send white blood cells to the surface of the scalp. This fights the inflammation. It also prevents the hair follicles from going to sleep, and causing the hair loss. With DPCP, it can take 3 months for the hair to start re-growing.

- Anthralin: This medicine alters the skin’s immune function. The patient applies a tar-like substance to the skin and leaves it on for 20 to 60 minutes. A dermatologist may call this short-contact therapy. After 20 to 60 minutes, the anthralin is washed off to avoid the skin from becoming irritated.

If a person has alopecia areata, the hair will start to re-grow when the body gets the right signals. Sometimes this happens without treatment. Even with alopecia areata treatment, new hair loss can occur. Everything depends on how the immune system reacts. Marbo Lotion quickly stops hair loss regardless of its cause. This product is very easy to use and you can expect fast results. It is recommended in case of different scalp problems: dandruff, oily hair, seborrhoeic dermatitis, scalp itching, thin and weak hair, hair loss for hormone imbalance (problems with thyroid gland, cystic ovaries, pregnancy), occasional seasonal hair loss, cytostatic therapy and radiation and for hair damaged by chemical treatments.