Hair loss affects both men and women at some point in their lives. It can occur anywhere in our bodies, but the scalp is the most commonly affected. Hair loss isn’t always easy to deal with. Some people refuse to accept it, which frequently results in psychological distress and loss of self-esteem, whereas others can take it as a part of their lives.
The volume, style, and even thickness of our hair play a role in determining our overall appearance and confidence. However, not everyone is born with thick and beautiful hair.
Some people experience hair loss in the form of circular or patchy bald spots on the scalp, beard, or brows. When it comes to the effects of baldness, there is a distinction between men and women. People may see men with receding hairlines as usual, whereas women’s hair loss may be difficult for them to accept. As a result, Hair Pigmentation, Scalp Micropigmentation for Alopecia, and Scalp Micropigmentation Hair Repair were created to help those suffering from alopecia, male and female pattern baldness, and hair loss. There are products and hair transplant surgery available to help you conceal bald spots, thinning hair, or hair loss.
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a skin condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles then causes hair loss in patches, most commonly on the scalp. Typically, bald patches appear suddenly and affect only a small area. Females are more likely to develop alopecia areata than males. Unlike female-pattern hair loss, which is a gradual thinning of hair covering a large extent, alopecia areata may be confined to a small area.
Cases of Alopecia
Alopecia Neurotica
It is characterized by hair loss as a result of nerve damage in the area where balding occurs.
Postpartum Alopecia
It is characterized by temporary hair loss at the end of a pregnancy. It varies from person to person, but postpartum hair loss usually lasts no more than three months and begins to grow back about six months after your baby is born.
Premature Alopecia
is distinguished by male pattern baldness that appears at an unusually young age. To control hair loss, doctors typically recommend iron, zinc, and biotin supplements. Minoxidil, azelaic acid, and finasteride are some other common hair loss medications. Doctors may give you steroid injections if you have alopecia areata.
Alopecia Presenilis
characterized by ordinary or common baldness that occurs in early or middle life without any visible scar disease
Alopecia Universalis
It occurs when all of the hairs on your entire body are lost. When a person has alopecia Universalis, their hair follicles remain active and capable of regrowing hair. Some people may discover that the condition resolves itself after a few months or years. However, in some cases, a person may suffer from permanent hair loss.
Diffuse Alopecia Areata
A more generalized form of hair loss where there is widespread dramatic thinning of the scalp hair. The typical patchy distribution of hair loss in classical alopecia areata is absent in incognita, but abrupt and intense hair loss is present.
Androgenic Alopecia
Androgenic alopecia is a genetic disorder that affects both men and women. Men with this condition, known as male pattern baldness, can experience hair loss as early as their teens or early twenties.
It is also known as male pattern baldness, or female pattern baldness is the most common type of alopecia. Androgenic alopecia can be genetic or hormonal.
Causes of Alopecia Areata
The exact cause of the alopecia area is not known, but according to current research, alopecia areata is caused by an immune system malfunction that damages hair follicles. This abnormality causes autoimmunity, a misguided immune system that attacks its own body. As a result, the immune system targets specific body tissues. In alopecia areata, the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles and disrupts normal hair formation for unknown reasons. Immune lymphocytes are seen penetrating the hair bulb of hair follicles in biopsies of affected skin.
There are many different potential causes of alopecia. Hair loss – temporary or permanent – can be triggered by any number of factors. Alopecia areata is occasionally associated with other autoimmune conditions such as
- Lupus– The affected areas may be coin-shaped (discoid); they are usually scaly, red, and sometimes slightly raised, leading to scarring. When the lesions occur on the scalp, they can, unfortunately, cause areas of permanent hair loss
- Rheumatoid arthritis– The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing pain, inflammation, and reduced joint mobility. In some people, chronic disease activity can also lead to hair loss
- Thyroid disease– The thyroid is a neck gland that controls metabolism-related hormones. Both low and overactive thyroid can trigger alopecia
- Ulcerative colitis– Hair loss is commonly reported anecdotally by IBD patients; however, the exact cause, prevalence, and relationship to IBD medications and disease activity are unknown. Previously, a case series of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) revealed a low overall prevalence of hair loss.
- Vitiligo– One similarity between Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata is that they are both common autoimmune skin diseases. Vitiligo is caused by melanocyte destruction, resulting in white patches on any part of the body; alopecia is characterized by the patchy hair loss on the scalp that can spread to other areas.
Symptoms of Alopecia Areata
- Hair loss is a prevalent condition that most people experience at some point in their lives.
- Hair loss caused by hair shaft breakage differs from hair loss caused by decreased hair growth.
- Both men and women experience androgenetic hair loss., but it is more severe in men.
- Hair loss can be caused by thyroid disease, anemia, protein deficiency, chemotherapy, and low vitamin levels.
- Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss caused by an autoimmune attack on hair follicles in specific areas of the skin.
- The most prominent symptom of alopecia areata is patchy hair loss.
Who is Affected by Alopecia Areata?
- Alopecia areata is most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 60.
- However, it can also affect older people and, in rare cases, young children and young adults.
- The condition alopecia areata is not contagious.
- It should be distinguished from hair shedding caused by the discontinuation of hormonal estrogen and progesterone therapies for birth control and hair shedding caused by the end of a pregnancy.
- Alopecia areata can be confused with several treatable conditions.
Effects of Alopecia Areata on Children
There are about 10% to 20% of people with alopecia areata have a family member who has it. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, alopecia has a little emotional impact on children under five. Hair loss, however, can be traumatizing for young children after the age of 5, as they begin to notice how they differ from others. Consult a pediatrician if your child appears stressed or depressed.
Genetics
People who first develop alopecia areata after 30 are less likely to have other family members with the disorder. The gene that causes alopecia Universalis (complete lack of hair on the body) is found on the short arm of chromosome 8.
Hereditary baldness starts with hair thinning and often progresses to complete hair loss on parts of the scalp. Hair on the pillow, in the tub, or on the comb is an unreliable indicator of hair loss.
What are the Different Treatments for Alopecia Areata?
Unfortunately, there is no known cure or perfect treatment for Alopecia Areata at this time. However, medical researchers and traditional experts have discovered ways to help the hair regain its strength over the years. When these remedies are used, they help the individual’s hair recover quickly and prevent future hair loss. Let’s take a look at the various Alopecia treatment options.
Medical Treatments
Applying medications to the fallout areas on your scalp is a simple treatment method that many people recommend. We want to recommend a few medicines that can help you maintain your hair growth, both over-the-counter and by prescription from a specialist:
- Anthralin (Dritho-scalp) promotes hair growth while irritating skin cells.
- Minoxidil is a popular over-the-counter medication applied twice daily to the scalp, beard, and brows. Feedback indicates that the drug is highly safe, but it may take up to a year to achieve the desired results.
- Topical Immunotherapy is a long-lasting treatment method for reviving hair growth. Active chemicals, such as diphencyprone, are rubbed directly onto the skin to cause an itchy rash. With the condition that you always apply the treatment, you can expect regrowth in six months. Later, nitrogen mustard, poison ivy, nickel, formalin, and priming were tried, mainly as topical immunotherapy, for Alopecia Areata and warts.
Oral Treatments
Nowadays, we have trusted oral treatments, such as Cortisone tablets, used to treat chronic alopecia. However, you should schedule a doctor’s appointment to learn about its side effects and prescription. Cyclosporine and methotrexate are two other options for people who want to keep their alopecia at bay. These medications aid in suppressing the immune system’s response to your hair follicles.
However, because of side effects such as lymphoma, increased blood pressure, and kidney damage, they should not be consumed for an extended period. In addition, male pattern baldness causes permanent hair loss in men of all ages.
Natural Treatments
Before discovering those above medical and oral treatment methods, our forefathers used alternative therapies to combat alopecia. Let’s take a quick look at them. Should we?
- Taking aloe vera gels and aloe vera drinks
- Microneedling
- Using low-level laser therapy
- Aromatherapy
- Use of vitamins such as biotin and zinc regularly
- Acupuncture
- Direct application of onion juice to the scalp
- Applying oils to your scalps such as peppermint, tea tree, lavender, and rosemary
- It is adhering to an anti-inflammatory diet that allows you to eat mostly vegetables and meats.
- Probiotics
Scalp Micropigmentation Treatment
Some people won’t need treatment because their hair grows back on its own. The problem with all alopecia areata treatments is that the results vary, and they do not prevent future baldness. To achieve good results, the above treatment options and methods could cost you a fortune. However, unlike the others, scalp micropigmentation provides men, women, and children suffering from areata alopecia with a guaranteed, cost-effective, and safe treatment option. The scalp micropigmentation for alopecia procedure is similar to tattooing your skin in that pigmented dots are injected into the scalp.
Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) produces consistent results and eliminates the need for further balding. That’s because your head tattoo will make it appear as if you just got a new buzzcut no matter how much hair you lose with the help of high-end equipment, pigments, and tiny needles! The best part is that getting a scalp tattoo only takes two to three sessions, so you won’t have to change your life in any way.
How Long Do Hair Tattoos Last?
Even though it is a permanent cosmetic procedure or process, the gradual disappearance of micropigmentation on scalp sections varies from person to person. Because it’s ink, it’ll interact with your cells and fade over time, which is why you can get a touch-up.
The pigments used in this process are specially designed semi-permanent makeup that is hypoallergenic and free of carcinogenic materials.
Although the effect can last up to 8 years, the treated skin will fade over time as all skin exfoliates naturally.
Although the color may fade, it will only do so if the wrong pigment is used.
However, if you have dehydrated skin, discoloration of hair color may occur more quickly. When the skin flakes off due to dry skin, it can inadvertently exfoliate the hair pigmentation more quickly.
The same procedure is used on the scalp, and the smudge-free hair loss solution lasts for years, restoring confidence and self-esteem to those suffering from alopecia or hair loss.
If you want to get rid of the scalp micropigmentation treatment, you can use laser removal. Laser removal is a procedure that involves the use of high-energy lasers to penetrate the skin.
Bottom Line
Alopecia areata is a condition that causes hair loss. If you have alopecia, you might see extra inch on pillows or in shower drains, or you might notice bald patches on your scalp. Some people who have alopecia area are also a victim of autoimmune disease or autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis have vitamin D deficiency which causes hair loss. Some medical conditions and treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can cause hair loss all over your body.
Scalp micropigmentation may not be the best solution for alopecia areata. Still, it is one of the best treatment options that you can have to prevent further hair loss. Scalp Hairline international has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, clinical evaluation, clinical trials, and medical associations.
Consult your doctor if you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or if you notice more hair loss than usual when combing or washing your or your child’s hair. Sudden hair loss may indicate an underlying medical condition that necessitates treatment.
FAQs:
Does Stress Cause a Alopecia?
Alopecia areata (AA) is a type of autoimmune disorder. It occurs when your immune system attacks your hair follicles by mistake. This can be caused by stress and result in hair loss.
If your hair loss is the result of stress, it will regrow over time. Everyone’s rate of regrowth will vary.
Human hair growth happens in four stages. The average human scalp contains approximately 100,000 hair follicles. At any given time, each of your hair follicles is in a different set of this cycle.:
Anagen period. This is the stage of hair growth. It lasts between two and seven years.
Catagen period. This is a two-week period during which the hair follicle begins to shrink.
The telogen phase. This is a three-month rest period.
The exogenous phase. This is the stage at which the follicle sheds the hair and begins new growth.
If stress has caused your hair loss, managing your anxiety may be the key to resuming a healthy rate of hair growth. Exercise regularly to help manage stress and its effects. Spend time with upbeat people — isolating yourself can exacerbate anxiety. Seek professional assistance from a therapist. Eat a healthy diet and, if your doctor suggests it, take a multivitamin.
Other Cases that Cause Alopecia
Some women have a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), in which they make much estrogen which can contribute to thinning and loss of hair.
These extra androgens can also cause your hair to think, especially near the front of your scalp. This is referred to as androgenic alopecia, also known as female pattern hair loss.
