Last week, we visited the subject of hair loss in woman. This week I want to briefly introduce basic information on alopecia areata, a form of hair loss. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, alopecia areata (al-oh-PEE-shah air-ee-ah-tah) is a highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. It usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches. This common but capricious disease affects approximately 2 percent of the population overall, including more than 5 million people in the United States alone. In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by a person’s own immune system (white blood cells), resulting in the arrest of the hair growth stage.
There are three types of alopecia areata;
- Alopecia areata is the most common variation of the autoimmune disease, and appears as round, smooth patches of hair loss in different sizes.
- Alopecia totalis – the total loss of hair on the scalp
- Alopecia universalis – the rarest form of alopecia areata, and is the loss of hair over the entire scalp and body.
In all types of alopecia areata, the hair follicles are alive and are ready to produce hair whenever they receive the appropriate signal. In all cases, regrowth may occur with or even without treatment, and sometimes even after years. Weird huh? This is the type that I experience. I guess I am lucky compared to some.
On treatments
The foundation also says, there are no FDA approved treatments specifically for alopecia areata, however, many medical professionals are willing to try treatments off label. There are treatment options available for mild, patchy alopecia areata (less than 50 percent scalp hair loss) though there is currently no acceptable treatment that works in all cases. With that stated, here is the info on the treatments that are commonly available for the different types.
Areata
- Cortisone injections: The most common treatment is the injection of cortisone into the bare skin patches. The injections are usually given by a dermatologist who uses a tiny needle to give multiple injections into the skin in and around the bare patches. The injections are repeated once a month. Both the needle prick and the slight tingling are usually well tolerated and there is no discomfort after leaving the doctor’s office. In new hair growth occurs, it is usually visible within four weeks. Treatment, however, does not prevent new patches from developing. There are few side effects from local cortisone injections. Occasionally, temporary depressions in the skin result from the local injections, but these “dells” usually fill in by themselves.
- Topical minoxidil: Five percent topical minoxidil solution applied twice daily may regrow hair in alopecia areata.
Scalp, eyebrows and beard may respond. If scalp hair regrows completely, treatment can be stopped. Two percent topical minoxidil solution alone is not effective in alopecia areata; response may improve if cortisone cream is applied 30 minutes after the minoxidil. Topical minoxidil is safe, easy to use, and does not lower blood pressure in persons with normal blood pressure. Topical minoxidil solution is not effective in treating those with 100 percent scalp hair loss.
- Anthralin cream or ointment: Another treatment is the application of anthralin cream or ointment. Anthralis is a synthetic, tar-like substance that has been used widely for psoriasis. Anthralin is applied to the bare patches once daily and washed off after a short time, usually 30 to 60 minutes later. If new hair growth occurs, it is seen in eight to 12 weeks. Anthralin can be irritating to the skin and can cause temporary, brownish discoloration of the treated skin. By using short treatment times, skin irritation and skin staining are reduced without decreasing effectiveness. Care must be taken not to get anthralin in the eyes.
Hands must be washed after applying it.
Totalis and Universalis
- Cortisone pills: Cortisone pills are sometimes given for extensive scalp hair loss. Cortisone taken internally is much stronger than local injections of cortisone into the skin. It is necessary to discuss possible side effects of cortisone pills with your physician. Healthy young adults often tolerate cortisone pills with few side effects. In general, however, cortisone pills are used in relatively few patients with alopecia areata due to health risks from prolonged use. Also, regrown hair is likely to fall out when the cortisone pills are stopped.
- Topical immunotherapy: Another method of treating extensive alopecia areata or alopecia totalis/universalis is known as topical immunotherapy and it involves producing an allergic rash or allergic contact dermatitis. Chemicals such as diphencyprone, dinitrochlorobenzene, or squaric acid dibutyl ester are applied to the scalp to produce an allergic rash which resembles poison oak or ivy. Approximately 40 percent of patients treated with topical immunotherapy will regrow scalp hair after about six months of treatment. Those who do successfully regrow scalp hair still need to continue the treatment to maintain the hair regrowth, at least until the condition turns itself off. An itchy rash may be uncomfortable in very hot weather, especially under a wig. These treatments are not available everywhere in the United States although they are used frequently in Canada and Europe.
- Wigs: In general, treatments are much less effective for extensive alopecia areata (particularly alopecia totalis/universalis).
For this reason, an attractive wig is an important option for some people. Proper attention will make a quality wig look completely natural; every wig has to be cut, thinned and styled, often several times. To keep a net base wig from falling off, even during active sports, special double sided tape can be purchased in beauty supply outlets and fastened to the inside of the wig.
For those with completely bare heads, there are suction caps to which any wig can be attached and there are entire suction cap wig units. These state of the art wigs, which make use of a silicon base to create a secure vacuum-fit, are comfortable and easily removed by the wearer. Proper fit of a vacuum wig requires that any existing scalp hair be shaved. These wigs are generally more expensive.
I hope that this information from the foundation is helpful for anyone who is having problems with this type of hair loss. Next week, I will have more information on local and national support groups. In the meantime check out www.naaf.org. Have a beautiful day!
