Alopecia is an illness that causes hair loss. It affects the head and other areas of the body. At present, experts do not have the exact cure for this disease. However, alopecia treatments can cause new hair growth. Signs are different depending on the types. Some of the types are alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia.
Important Facts:
Areata causes tiny bald spots. People with this illness have a damaged defense system. They attack healthy cells on the scalp that can cause hair loss. Therefore, they destroy the hair follicles that lead to hair fall.
On the other hand, androgenic alopecia causes hair to fall from specific parts. Hence, it is also called pattern baldness and more common in men.
To know whether you have it, you must see a skin specialist. Doctors will look for the signs. They will also look at the spots with missing hair. Besides, they will try pulling your hair to see whether the hair falls off quickly.
Treatments
Sometimes, hair grows back naturally. However, some need alopecia treatments to grow it back. The number of falling and growing hair is not the same for every person. Likewise, the effects of treatments are different for everyone. Sometimes, people still experience hair loss even right after treatments. Take note that some products are short term. You might see results, but your hair can fall again. There are many treatments for this hair illness. Therefore, it might take time to find what will be effective for you.
This article lists down effective treatments.
1. Oral Medicines
Drinking medicines are sometimes effective. Some medicines are methotrexate, cortisone tablets, and cyclosporine. Cortisones treat serious alopecia while the other two treats the defense system.
Drinking medicines work. However, experts say that these medicines have side effects. Some can cause high blood pressure and liver damage. Therefore, long use of this medicine is not good for health. Furthermore, it is better to talk to your doctor before drinking.
2. Topical Medicine
Some common alopecia areata treatments are ointments and lotions. There is a cream that can treat it. However, it can irritate and may stop hair growth.
Also, there is a cure for inflammation of the hair follicles. Hence, its effect can start new hair growth. This medicine comes in lotions and foams.
There is a liquid medication for treating baldness. You can buy this as an over-the-counter or doctor’s order medicine. You must apply it to the affected area twice a day. This treatment is safe and effective. However, results take a long time, from three months to one year of use. Studies say that it can only treat a mild case.
3. Light Therapy
Light therapy is a combination of UV light and drinking medicines. One can use both to try if the hair will go back to normal.
4. Immunotherapy
It is a treatment when a person has a lot of missing hair. Hence, it is a widely used alopecia areata treatment. One can benefit from it when hair loss keeps on coming back. This treatment involves putting chemicals in the affected area. Likewise, it can cause an allergic reaction. When it does, the hair grows back. However, this treatment can cause itchiness. It is good to do it many times to keep your hair growing.
5. Shot
Shots are good for mild cases of hair fall. It is effective for hair growth. You can apply it once in two months. This treatment is effective, but it does not avoid future hair fall.
6. Stay away from stress
According to studies, stress can make hair weaker. Therefore, you should lower your stress levels to save your hair from falling. However, it needs more studies to prove that it is true.
7. Natural Treatments
Some people rely on alopecia cure home remedies. These treatments include drinks like vitamins and green tea. Drinking herbs like ginseng and hibiscus can also work. Further, you can use essential oils as lotions. You can put some vegetable oil on the skin, too. Some examples of vegetable oil are coconut, olive, and castor.
Take note that alopecia cure home remedies are tested. Hence, their effectivity is not well-studied. Further, some supplements in the market do not promise a good result. FDA does not require proof of safety. Therefore, you should ask your doctor before trying these out.
