What is Alopecia Areata Hair Loss?

Cases of alopecia areata are most prevalent in younger adults and adolescents. If you have this condition, you might lose your hair all of a sudden. It can cause bald spots, total baldness (alopecia totalis), or hair loss all over the body, even on the eyebrows and eyelashes (alopecia universalis). Most people with alopecia areata get their hair back after a few years. The good news is Moksha Dermatology offers the latest Alopecia Areata Treatments available in Cincinnati, Ohio.

This condition is different from male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness, and it can happen to people of any age. About 5% of people with this condition lose all hair on their bodies and heads. When hair falls out, it sometimes grows back, only to fall out again. In spite of what many people think, alopecia areata is neither caused by stress nor is it contagious. Your immune system causes hair loss when it attacks hair follicles, which are the roots of each hair. Alopecia areata is not a sign of an illness, and people with it are usually healthy.

Understanding the Types of Alopecia Areata

Hair thinning due to alopecia areata can manifest itself in a few different ways:

Alopecia Areata Patchy: Little, smooth bald spots, around the size of a dime to a quarter, are the result of this form of hair loss, which affects millions of people

Alopecia Totalis: This term refers to complete loss of hair on the scalp

Alopecia Universalis: Affected individuals suffer from total alopecia, including on the scalp, face, and body

When Does Alopecia Areata Typically Start?

Alopecia areata is a condition that can strike at any time in a person’s life. Yet, onset of symptoms often occurs throughout the adolescent years. In the early stages, there may be less noticeable symptoms, and hair loss may be recoverable. A person’s hair is less likely to regrow at a certain age.

How is It Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of alopecia areata may usually be made by looking at the pattern of hair loss and the patient’s medical history. A biopsy can be required to confirm a positive diagnosis.

Is There a Cure for Alopecia Areata?

There is presently no definitive cure for alopecia areata, but be assured that your hair follicles are still actively producing hair. Even if more than half of your hair has been lost or if you’ve experienced partial or complete hair loss for a long period of time, you may still be able to regrow it, says the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Moksha Dermatology’s experts provide alopecia areata treatments to help those suffering from this condition.

What Are the Symptoms of Alopecia Areata?

• Your hair loss is concentrated in one area of your scalp
• Pitting or stippling is the medical term for the rows of small dents on your fingernails
• Like an exclamation point, hairs are widest at their tips and thinnest at their roots

Alopecia areata patients are more likely to suffer from photosensitivity. If you plan on being outside for more than a few minutes at a time, you should wear a wide-brimmed hat to shield your ears, face, and head from the sun.

How Likely Will I Lose All My Hair With Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia areata is a common condition among our patients, and the majority of them have the scalp-only kind. Some of our patients have suffered the unfortunate progression of alopecia areata from a few localized scalp areas to a complete loss of scalp hair and, in extreme cases, eyebrow hair as well. The reality is, though, that this almost never happens. Therefore, alopecia universalis is quite uncommon. All of a person’s hair can be impacted by and lost by Alopecia Universalis.

Will My Hair Grow Back?

This is different for each person. Your hair is likely to grow back, but it could also fall out again. This cycle of losing hair and getting new hair back is hard to predict. Some people will only ever lose their hair once and never again. There are also different amounts of hair. Some people get a few bald spots, while others may lose most of their hair.

When the hair starts to grow back, it may be white or blond and thinner than it was before. Most of the time, this won’t last. Over time, your hair’s natural color and texture usually come back.

How Can Alopecia Areata Symptoms Be Treated?

Men and women can now slow hair loss, stop it, and even grow it back thanks to new alopecia areata treatments and cosmetic technologies. Therapeutic scalp and hair products, specifically formulated drugs for hair development, topical nutrients, low-level laser therapy, and even plasma-based hair growth injections are just some of the nonsurgical options available at Moksha Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio. During your visit, our expert dermatologists will be able to tell you which treatment will work best. Even though we may not be able to stop your hair loss completely, we can help you grow it back.

Schedule Your Alopecia Areata Hair Loss Treatment Appointment Today

If you suffer from Alopecia Areata and are ready to change your life and restore your hair, simply give us a call. Our offices in Cincinnati, Ohio and the surrounding areas of Dayton and Springboro can help you discover better hair today! In order to find out what’s ideal for your needs, contact Moksha Dermatology today!