| There are two main forms of this condition which | | | | bare scalp. These are usually quite painless giving a |
| vary by the extent of hair loss and require different | | | | slight tingling sensation and have very few side |
| types of alopecia areata treatment. The mild form is | | | | effects such as minor skin depressions. This alopecia |
| where less than 50% of the hair is lost from thinning | | | | areata treatment is usually complimented with higher |
| patches on the scalp and the more severe condition | | | | strength 5% topical minoxidil solution applied twice |
| where more than 50% up to 100% of the hair is lost. | | | | daily. Cortisone cream is sometimes used in |
| When diagnosing alopecia areata it is useful to have | | | | combination with minoxidil for improved response and |
| some background information about the disease. | | | | applied 30 minutes after the minoxidil application. |
| Alopecia areata is known as an autoimmune condition | | | | Another effective treatment is anthralin cream or |
| that can be highly unpredictable and which affects | | | | ointment, a synthetic, tar-like substance widely used |
| about 1.7 % of the population. The body’s | | | | for psoriasis treatment. It is applied to the bare scalp |
| white blood cells attack the hair follicles resulting in a | | | | once daily and as it can be a skin irritant is usually |
| stop in growth. It usually starts with one or two small | | | | only left on for 30-60 minute periods then washed |
| round bald patches on the scalp, but can develop into | | | | off. Successful treatments can stimulate new hair |
| a complete loss of hair, both on the scalp (alopecia | | | | growth in eight to twelve weeks. |
| totalis) and body (alopecia universalis). It is not known | | | | Extensive alopecia areata is much more difficult to |
| what triggers such attacks, whether the trigger | | | | treat and local injections of cortisone into the scalp |
| comes from within, or from outside such as in the | | | | are not that effective. In some cases cortisone pills |
| form of a virus. | | | | are prescribed, these have a more powerful effect |
| Recent research seems to show that some people | | | | but there is a greater risk of side effects with |
| have genetic markers that increase both their | | | | extended use. In general they are not widely |
| susceptibility to the condition and to its severity. One | | | | prescribed apart from to young healthy adults who |
| in five people with the condition will have a relative | | | | may have higher tolerance levels for the drug. Topical |
| who is also affected. This is especially true in those | | | | minoxidil at 5% strength is still the most common |
| who develop the condition before the age of 30. It is | | | | alopecia areata treatment and effective even for |
| more common in families whose members also have | | | | extensive alopecia areata. Another method that is |
| conditions such as asthma, hay fever, eczema, | | | | used frequently in Canada and Europe is known as |
| thyroid disease, Addison’s disease, rheumatoid | | | | topical immunotherapy. This uses the chemicals |
| arthritis, lupus erythematosus, vitiligo, | | | | diphencyprone (DPCP) or squaric acid dibutyl ester |
| Addison’s disease or pernicious anaemia. | | | | (SADBE) to induce an allergic rash in the scalp. To |
| The condition occurs in people of all ages and races | | | | date topical immunotherapy has been show to be |
| and can have huge psychological effects which are | | | | the most effective alopecia areata treatment with |
| exacerbated by the fact that the public at large do | | | | 40% of patients regrowing hair after six months of |
| no generally understand this condition. It is sudden in | | | | treatment. |
| onset and can recur from time to time quite | | | | Sufferers of alopecia areata should not give up hope |
| unpredictably. | | | | of a cure as there are many ongoing research |
| There is no known cure for alopecia areata and hair | | | | projects are currently being undertaken. Some of the |
| loss is a side effect of the underlying disease. Current | | | | most promising involve gene therapy, stem cells |
| alopecia areata treatments therefore work by | | | | research and hair follicle development and new |
| extensive stimulation of the hair follicles which needs | | | | alopecia areata treatments will continue to be made |
| to be continued for the duration of the disease. | | | | available. |
| The mild form of the disease is easier to treat and | | | | For more general information about the causes of |
| the most common form of treatment is to have | | | | alopecia please visit our web site. |
| monthly cortisone injections, injected directly into the | | | | |