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Alopecia is the loss of hair or baldness. Factors involved in male hair loss include heredity, hormones, and aging. Alopecia can occur in women, though not as severely, and usually following menopause. Other factors contributing to hair loss include: poor circulation, acute illness, surgery, radiation, skin disease, sudden weight loss, iron deficiency, diabetes, thyroid disease, stress, poor diet, vitamin deficiency, pregnancy, and drugs, such as those used in chemotherapy.
Alopecia Areata is a type of Hair Loss (Baldness) characterized by the sudden appearance of a round or oval patch of non-scarring and painless Hair Loss with spontaneous remissions and exacerbations. The area affected by the patches of Alopecia Areata usually remains, soft, smooth and totally devoid of Hair. Alopecia Areata is characterized by a shift in the phases of the Hair Growth Cycle - many of the Hairs that would normally be in their Anagen (active growth) phase move prematurely into their Telogen (resting) phase. The Hair Loss that normally occurs in Alopecia Areata is localized to specific patches of the Scalp and analysis (biopsy) of the base of the Hair Follicle reveals Inflammation.
Alopecia Areata afflicts approximately 1% of the population at some stage of their life.
These Substances Alleviate Alopecia Areata
Hair Improvers
- Minoxidil (e.g. Rogaine applied topically) stimulates Hair Growth and Hair Follicles in some Alopecia Areata patients. research
Viviscal is claimed (by its producers) to be an effective treatment for Alopecia Areata. research
Minerals
- Copper-Peptide Complexes (applied topically) stimulate Hair Growth in Alopecia Areata patients (by inhibiting the Inflammation in the Scalp that is believed to cause Alopecia Areata).
Zinc alleviates Alopecia Areata. research
Pharmaceutical Drugs
- Cimetidine is occasionally used as an adjunct to other treatments for Alopecia Areata - it is used primarily when Alopecia Areata patients have developed tolerance to topical irritants normally employed in the treatment of Alopecia Areata.
- Tacrolimus (0.1% ointment applied topically) stimulates Hair regrowth in Alopecia Areata patients. research
These Foods Alleviate Alopecia Areata
Dietary Oils
- Flax Seed Oil may alleviate some cases of Alopecia Areata:
- One physician has reported on a patient with Alopecia Areata who experienced Hair regrowth after one year of daily use of Flax Seed Oil.
These Ailments can Cause Alopecia Areata
Digestive System
- Hypochlorhydria (insufficient production of Hydrochloric Acid) is the underlying cause of some cases of Alopecia Areata.
Immune System
- Alopecia Areata is generally regarded as an Autoimmune Disease and Alopecia Areata often occurs in conjunction with other Autoimmune Diseases:
- Alopecia Areata often occurs as a result of the presence of Anti-Thyroid Auto-Antibodies.
Nervous System
Adrenal Insufficiency often occurs in conjunction with Alopecia Areata.
Excessive Stress can cause Alopecia Areata:
- Alopecia Areata caused by excessive Stress usually occurs 2 - 3 months after the period of Stress and (unless the cause of Stress is repeated) regrowth of Hair normally occurs.
Forms of Alopecia Areata
- Alopecia Areata Barbae is the term for an Alopecia Areata lesion found in the region of beard hair.
- Alopecia Areata Diffusa (also known as Diffuse Alopecia Areata) is a term used for an Alopecia Areata lesion involving general thinning of Hair on the Scalp.
- Alopecia Ophiasis is a form of Alopecia Areata that involves a “winding” spread of Hair Loss around the margins of the Scalp, most commonly as a band affecting the back and sides of the Head (the Occipital and Temporal regions of the Scalp).
- Alopecia Totalis is a form of Alopecia Areata that progressively manifests as total loss of Hair on the Scalp.
- Alopecia Universalis is a form of Alopecia Areata that progressively manifests as total loss of Scalp, Body and Facial Hair.
- Reticular Alopecia (also known as Reticular Alopecia Areata) is a less common form of Alopecia Areata that involves a grid-like loss of Hair (i.e. small, well-defined patches of Hair Loss).
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