Understanding Hair Loss Caused By Alopecia

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Understanding Hair Loss Caused By Alopecia

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Alopecia areata is one of the most common causes of hair loss. There are three types of alopecia: alopecia areata, the condition where hair falls out in patches all over the body; alopecia totalis, which causes the scalp to completely shed hair in a relatively short period; and alopecia universalis, which causes those affected to lose hair from the head, face, and body.

Alopecia is diagnosed by series of blood tests designed to check hormone levels in the blood. Once the diagnosis is confirmed a treatment can be decided upon. Treatment is most effective when the alopecia is not severe.

Treatment for Alopecia Areata

Hair loss caused by alopecia areata can be treated successfully if the condition is diagnosed early. The treatment for alopecia consists of one or more of the following: first, minoxidil (Rogaine) is applied topically on a daily basis, along with topical applications of the Chinese herb, he shou wu, and possibly also 100 per cent aloe vera gel. Your medical practitioner may also suggest cortisone injections into the scalp. Sometimes creams and lotions can be used instead, but these will be less effective than the injections.

The above treatments for hair loss caused by alopecia are sometimes very effective, and sometimes disappointing. The effectiveness can depend on the stage at which the alopecia was first diagnosed, the underlying cause, and the overall health status of the person. For example, if the patient suffering the hair loss is a woman going through menopause the treatment may include the regulation of hormones. If the person is diabetic, then the hair loss will be controlled better if the diabetes is first brought under control, and so on.

Alternatives Available

For those who suffer from severe hair loss caused by alopecia, surgical transplant of hair can be an effective way to replace the lost hair. However, this process is both very expensive and painstaking and should be taken only as a last option. There are also a number of herbal remedies that have proven beneficial, including the use of saw palmetto. Beware of fraudulent products, however, since the FDA does not endorse the herbal products and hence it is easy to misrepresent facts in their promotion.

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