Hair loss is a common problem, and to get the proper treatment, it is essential to know what causes it. One of the autoimmune disorders that cause unpredictable hair loss is called alopecia. In most cases, it can result in small bald patches on the scalp. There can be a few patches, but alopecia areata can affect more expansive areas of the scalp. When this occurs, the cells infiltrate the hair follicle, resulting in hair loss.

Causes
This condition occurs when the white blood cells attack the cells in the hair follicles leading to shrinkage and ultimately slowing down their production. Although, it is still unknown exactly what causes the immune system to attack hair follicles. However, another cause may be genetics, where one in five people with alopecia areata has a family member who has also developed the same condition.

When should you see a doctor for alopecia areata?
You should visit a doctor if you see symptoms such as losing hair in patches, experiencing anxiousness because of hair loss, observing a receding hairline, and experiencing more hair loss than usual while washing hair.

Oral treatment options
When you seek treatment for alopecia areata, your dermatologist will suggest oral options. These include:

Immunosuppressants
This helps reduce the immune system’s attack on healthy hair follicles and further helps to stop hair fall. The main idea for taking this is to restore the hair follicles and allow hair regrowth.

Methotrexate
In case of extreme hair loss, the doctor might suggest methotrexate which is used to treat psoriasis and some form of cancers.

Other treatment options
People with alopecia areata have options to manage their condition, but one kind of treatment doesn’t fit all. You might need to try a few treatment options before figuring out which works best for you. Since this is an autoimmune disease, the treatment is mainly to keep the immune system from attacking the hair follicles. The treatment can take the form of topicals, prescribed pills, and some therapies. Unfortunately, not all treatments work for everyone. Sometimes, even after successful treatment, hair loss might appear again. Allow your doctor to decide the best option for you.

Here are some of the treatment options that are available for alopecia areata:

Topical immunotherapy
In this therapy, chemicals are applied directly to the scalp to cause allergic reactions. This reaction, in turn, stimulates the immune system and promotes hair growth. It is better to undergo this treatment under the care of a dermatologist. It is seen that many people could regrow scalp hair within six months of this treatment. You can continue with this treatment if you see positive results.

Topical minoxidil
It is also known as Rogaine. Under this topical treatment, a solution is applied to the scalp. This is an easy-to-follow treatment. It works to help the hair grow faster when the follicle is not exposed to the immune system’s attack, and this treatment can produce hair. The minoxidil solution has a strength of around 2% or 5%. You can apply this solution once or twice a day. The dormant follicles are encouraged and aid hair growth.

Wig or scalp prosthesis
Your dermatologist may recommend this remedy for a few reasons. Firstly, since the treatment may take time, a wig or temporary hairpiece can conceal hair loss immediately. Secondly, it may also be done if your self-confidence has taken a hit. So, a scalp prosthesis is a type of custom-made wig to help ensure it fits perfectly. It is also known as a hair prosthesis and cranial prosthesis. All the wigs are usually held or clipped onto a wig cap for better support.

Oral options
While some remedies are more effective, some people also choose oral options. Again, oral options suppress the immune system and inflammation in the body, further encouraging hair regrowth. In the case of moderate hair loss, this treatment has shown positive results.

Ointment
Anthralin cream or ointment is a synthetic, tar-like substance used to treat psoriasis. It is also a standard treatment for alopecia. This cream is applied to the patches once a day and should be washed off after one hour. The ointment can show its results within eight to twelve weeks.

Conclusion
People with alopecia areata can lose a significant amount of hair on their face, head, and even body. This condition also affects patients emotionally and mentally because of low self-confidence. So, once you start noticing that you are experiencing an unusual amount of hair fall, you should get in touch with your dermatologist and get the problem diagnosed and treated. Remember that the earlier your problem is detected, the better it is for you.