| Alopecia areata is a form of hair loss from areas of | | | | For small patchy disease, intralesional steroid injections |
| the body, usually from the scalp. It can occur at any | | | | (Kenalog(r)) are the best approach. Steroid injections |
| age and affects 1% of the population, most | | | | are commonly used in sites where there are small |
| commonly children. Hair loss tends to be rather rapid | | | | areas of hair loss on the head or especially where |
| and often involves one side of the head more than | | | | eyebrow hair has been lost. Some other medications |
| the other. Alopecia areata affects both males and | | | | used are minoxidil, irritants (anthralin or topical coal |
| females. This type of hair loss is different than | | | | tar), and topical immunotherapy cyclosporine, each of |
| male-pattern baldness, an inherited condition. In | | | | which are sometimes used in different combinations. |
| 1–2% of cases, the condition can spread to the | | | | Other medications include minoxidil, irritants (anthralin |
| entire scalp (Alopecia totalis) or to the entire | | | | or topical coal tar), and topical immunotherapy |
| epidermis (Alopecia universalis). The cause of alopecia | | | | (cyclosporine), each of which are sometimes used in |
| areata is unknown, although in some cases, alopecia | | | | different combinations. Injections of cortisone into |
| areata has been associated with autoimmune | | | | the scalp can treat alopecia areata. The most |
| diseases. A family history of alopecia is present in | | | | effective treatment currently available is contact |
| about a fifth of all cases. Alopecia areata is | | | | hypersensitization with some studies showing 40% |
| occasionally associated with autoimmune diseases. | | | | success rates. |
| Some autoimmune conditions such as allergic | | | | Alopecia Areata Get Rid Tips |
| disorders, thyroid disease, vitiligo, lupus, rheumatoid | | | | 1. Triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog) is used most |
| arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Alopecia may also occur | | | | commonly. |
| as alopecia totalis with complete loss of scalp hair or | | | | 2. Stress reduction can be helpful in slowing hair loss. |
| as alopecia universalis with total loss of all body hair. | | | | 3. Betamethasone dipropionate cream 0.05% |
| Alopecia areata appears to also have an autoimmune | | | | (Diprosone) showed similar efficacy. |
| factor causing the patient to develop antibodies to | | | | 4. Steroid injections, creams, and shampoos for the |
| different hair follicle structures. It affects 1-2% of | | | | scalp have been used for alopecia. |
| the population. Certain chemicals that are a part of | | | | 5. Regular aerobic exercise can help keep androgen |
| the immune system called cytokines may play a role | | | | levels (particularly free testosterone levels). |
| in alopecia areata by inhibiting hair follicle growth. | | | | 6. Immunosuppressants applied to the scalp have |
| Emotional stress may also cause alopecia areata. With | | | | been shown to temporarily reverse alopecia areata. |
| alopecia areata, baldness usually occurs in small, | | | | 7. Some non-clinical treatment such as ,blackcurrant |
| round, smooth patches. Treatment depends on the | | | | and borage oils in caplet form, and zinc supplement |
| extent of the disease, and the age of the patient. | | | | tablets. |