Are you the one who has to cover your head with a cap to hide hair loss in small, round patches? It’s normal to feel insecure about it. Those round patches are called alopecia areata.
So, exactly what is alopecia areata? It is where your immune system attacks your hair follicles and leads to hair loss in patches. It can occur with no warning or build-up and can be rather frightening. But once you understand what is happening, you can manage it much better.
In this blog, we will discuss everything that there is to know about what is alopecia areata and the other factors related to it. We will also talk about other factors like treatment, diet, and other things that matter to your hair. Let’s proceed to help you look and feel better about yourself once more.
What Is Alopecia Areata?
People ask, “What is alopecia areata?” and the answer is simple. It happens when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles, leading them to drop in small round patches. It can happen suddenly and is quite common with people regardless of age or gender.
Alopecia areata usually does not cause full baldness, but it can lead to a lot of hair loss. This can be tough to handle, especially emotionally
Key Facts About Alopecia Areata:
- It’s not contagious. You can’t catch it.
- It can happen to both men and women.
- Hair loss can happen suddenly, and you may not expect it.
- Some people’s hair grows back, while others may have long-term hair loss.
A lot of people think, “What is alopecia areata?” and “Can it be cured?” While there is no permanent cure, treatment for alopecia hair loss can be done in the form of effective management.
Read More About: Is Hair Transplant Safe?
Types of Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata has different types. Understanding what is alopecia and its types is crucial for finding the right hair treatment for hair loss. Each type can differ in severity. Here are the main types:
Patchy Alopecia Areata – The most common form. It causes one or more small bald patches on your scalp which appear out of nowhere.
Alopecia Totalis – This leads to the complete loss of all hair follicles on the scalp.
Alopecia Universalis – This is the most severe. It can lead to the scalp and the entire body losing hair. The hair may fall out from the other parts of the body like the face, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
A diagnosis for all types of alopecia is important at the earliest possible stage. If that objective is met, the steps to manage the condition will be relatively easy.
What Triggers Alopecia Areata?
While there are many potential reasons for hair loss, the specific one is unknown. Some researchers posit that it could be due to the immune system, which mistakenly assaults hair follicles. They have classified some hair falling out causes, including:
- The immune system attacks hair follicles.
- Family history plays a role. Specific genes are believed to be linked to the condition.
- Exposure to toxins, pollution, or infections can trigger it.
- Stress, both emotional and physical, can make hair loss worse.
Early Signs to Watch For
- Sudden smooth, circular hair loss on the scalp, beard, or eyebrows
- Hair thinning and shedding in clumps
- Brittle and dry hair that breaks with very little effort
- Nail changes, such as pitting, Beau’s lines nail thinning and ridging
How to Differentiate From Other Hair Loss Types
Patchy Alopecia Areata: Bald spots across the head that are small in size and rounded in shape.
Alopecia Totalis: Loss of all hair up on the head.
Alopecia Universalis: Complete hair loss of the body.
If you are uncertain about what is causing your hair loss, consult a doctor.
How to Diagnose Alopecia Areata
An experienced doctor will be able to diagnose if you have alopecia and suggest the best treatment. Here is some of the information that you may find useful when trying to figure out what is alopecia areata:
Physical Examination: This is by far the most basic step where the doctor inspects your head to identify bald patches to determine if it is indeed alopecia areata.
Scalp Biopsy: If need be, the doctor would conduct a skin biopsy. The sample will be taken from the scalp area. This is to check if there are any morphological features associated with alopecia areata.
Blood Tests: Doctors will conduct blood tests to rule out the existence of other autoimmune diseases that may be the cause of hair thinning.
Finding out and developing an accurate hair treatment for hair loss sooner rather than later can stop the condition from worsening.
Read More About: Hair Treatment For Thin Hair
How to Treat Alopecia Areata
Learning how to stop alopecia areata from spreading involves many practices. Many people have shared stories of how I cured my alopecia areata through these methods:
A checklist of the treatment approaches is given below:
Medical Treatments
Understanding reasons for hair loss helps in choosing the right hair treatment for hair loss. Typically, these therapies are categorized as follows:
Corticosteroid Injections
Corticosteroid injections are given directly into the bald patches. They reduce inflammation and prevent the immune system from attacking hair follicles. This helps to speed up healing. These treatments may take several sessions, but they profoundly help. It helps reduce redness and swelling around hair follicles.
Topical Steroids
Topical steroids comprise steroid creams or ointments used on the head. They reduce the immune system’s attack on hair follicles, minimizing inflammation that leads to hair loss.
- It works best for mild to moderate hair loss.
- Less painful than injection therapies.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a topical solution or foam that can be applied. The product is designed to stimulate the hair follicles and promote regrowth. It is simple to use and can help reduce hair loss.
- Available in both liquid and foam forms.
- Use directly on the bald spots.
- Results might take a few months to show
Oral Medications
Steroids and immunosuppressive drugs taken orally help in modulating the immune system activity. Such medications keep the immune system from damaging the hair follicles. Generally, it is reserved for severe cases.
- Doctors may prescribe oral steroids to achieve results in a short time.
- Immunosuppressive agents help in the control of inflammation.
- Comes with potential risks including weight gain and high blood pressure.
QR678 Therapy
Breaking through the barrier of traditional approaches to hair restoration, QR678 therapy is more effective as it directly provides growth factors into the scalp where it is most needed. This novel method of treatment is more promising because it directly assists in the activation of hair follicles for regrowth.
- It does require a couple of visits to the clinic.
- Stimulates hair follicles for faster regrowth.
- Helps in achieving the desired results when combined with other treatments.
Read More About: Flax Seeds Benefits For Hair Growth
Debunking Common Myths About Alopecia Areata
There are constant questions which go around the topic of how to stop alopecia areata from spreading? To answer that question, understanding the facts is the first step. There are many misconceptions about this disease that may worry or confuse you. Let us clear them up.
Myth 1: It Only Affects the Scalp
Most people believe that alopecia areata only causes hair loss on the scalp. This is not entirely true. Eyebrows, eyelashes, beard or other body parts may also be affected. In severe cases, a person may completely lose body and scalp hair.
Myth 2: Stress Is the Main Reason
Stress can make hair loss worse, but it is not the main reason. If you are pondering on hair falling out causes, the trouble generally lies with the immune system. It targets your hair follicles by accident. Your genes and body changes play a bigger role than stress alone.
Myth 3: Nothing Can Stop It
There are people who believe there is no way to stop hair loss. This is incorrect. Creams, steroid injections, or more sophisticated methods like QR678 can be effective. Starting treatment as quickly as possible increases the chances to control hair fall.
Myth 4: You Can Catch It from Someone Else
You cannot catch alopecia areata from another person. It results from changes in your immune system, not from touching or being around someone else.
Myth 5: Hair Loss Is Always Permanent
Many people think that after losing hair, it is gone forever. That is far from the truth. In a variety of situations, hair can come back by itself without any sort of intervention. But regrowth can take time and might be different for everyone. Treatments can help speed up the process and make your hair stronger.
Patience and regular care will improve the chances for effective management of the condition over time.
Wrapping Up
Living with alopecia areata can be challenging emotionally, but with the right treatment, your self-esteem can be rebuilt. While many share stories of how they cured their alopecia areata keep in mind that every person has a unique story to tell. Most important is early diagnosis and effective treatment of alopecia hair loss to stop it from worsening.
If you are looking for a treatment that works, consider trying QR678 therapy. It has been noted to reactivate hair follicles and trigger fresh hair growth. Many people do benefit from this technique as it is minimally invasive.
Stop postponing the care of your hair. Consult a doctor and find out if QR678 will work for you. The time is now to reach out to a professional and find out if QR678 will work for you. The sooner you take the first step, the higher your chances will be to prevent the further spread of alopecia areata. Take action and get your hair back.
FAQs
Can children develop Alopecia Areata?
Both children and adults are susceptible to alopecia areata. This commonly develops in individuals under twenty years of age. In more severe instances, patchy hair loss can occur. For such childhood cases, early hair treatment for hair loss is very important.
Will my hair grow back completely?
There is no guaranteed assurance for full hair regrowth, as it changes from person to person. A subset of people can lose hair repeatedly while others can fully regrow hair. Treatments will help speed up the regrowth process, but the outcome will differ depending on your body.
Can Alopecia Areata affect other areas besides the scalp?
Certainly, eyebrows, eyelashes, and body hair are other areas where alopecia areata can cause hair loss. Hair loss can happen anywhere on the body, but most commonly occurs on the scalp. Alopecia Areata has treatment methods that can help alleviate the condition.
Can I still dye my hair if I have Alopecia Areata?
While experiencing active alopecia areata, it is most advisable to avoid hair dying as the chemicals used can be harsh and damage the scalp. However, if you decide you want to dye your hair, make sure the product used is gentle and does not contain ammonia. Consult a medical practitioner to see if it is appropriate for your scalp.
Read More About: Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss