Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune condition characterized by a significant loss of hair, which occurs in tiny patches. Being an auto immune condition, the effect takes place when the white blood cells start to attack hair follicles, weakening them in the process which leads to fall out. Even so, the hair follicles will still remain active, and after sometime, with the use of effective medication, most people will suddenly start to re-grow hair.
If the condition is not treated with the urgency it deserves, the tiny patches of lost hair may eventually become worse, leading to total loss of hair in every part of the body. Be advised that response to treatment is normally effective for people who have experienced less than 50% of hair loss on the scalp, reason enough to seek alopecia Araeta treatment as soon as you suspect the condition. If left untreated, the condition can lead to permanent baldness.
The most common treatments for alopecia araeta normally include the use of steroids which are injected or applied topically. Cortisone injections are quite common, which your doctor will inject in each and every bald patch on your scalp. Very tiny needles are used, so the pain may not be as much, although a needle is a needle anyway. After subsequent visits to the doctor, new hair may be seen after four weeks or so.
There are also the prescription medications for alopecia araeta, including minoxidil and tretinoin. Oral contraceptives, although very occasionally, can also be prescribed for this condition. This is however used under great care, considering the fact that contraceptives have always been thought to trigger hair loss.
Natural treatment remedies for alopecia araeta include manipulating and correcting your diet to ensure you gain enough nutrients to stimulate the healthy growth of hair and combat the condition from the root cause. Vitamins B-Complex, Vitamins A, C, and E are particularly recommended, and so are other minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium, all which are effective in hair growth. You might even want to supplement your daily intake with hair loss supplements.
There are also herbal remedies for the condition, which are mostly about topical applications. Conditioning your hair with olive oil and/ or honey based hair products can help not only treat alopecia but a myriad of other hair problems as well, including scalp infections, fortifying hair shafts, and soothing irritated skin. Raw onion juice has also been reported to be an effective remedy, and so are other hair treatments that utilize herbal extracts such as thyme, rosemary, lavender, sage, jojoba oil, aloe Vera, primrose oil, grape seed oil, and peppermint oil to mention but a few.
So, what causes alopecia araeta? As mentioned, it can be as a result of an autoimmune disease e.g. arthritis or lupus. As is well known, such autoimmune diseases have no known cure yet, hence the best remedy is effective management of the disease. Eating disorders, hereditary predisposition, and an underactive or overactive thyroid, anemia, viral infections, and use of certain medications have all been associated with the disease.
As always, a trip to the doctor can help kick the ball rolling when it comes to the most effective alopecia araeta treatment as per your underlying cause.