FAQ
“In all forms of alopecia areata, the hair follicles remain alive and are ready to resume normal hair production whenever they receive the appropriate signal. In all cases, hair re-growth may occur even without treatment and even after many years.”
National Alopecia Areata Foundation
What is Alopecia (Greek word alopekia - hair loss, baldness)
Alopecia is a loss of hair on any part of the body.
What causes of Alopecia
Alopecia can be caused by hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, certain drugs, chemotherapy/radiation therapy, environmental toxicity, infections, Trichotillomania (a hair pulling disorder) and even chemical hair treatments.
Current evidence suggests that alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system. Normally the immune system attacks foreign matter that invades the body. However, with autoimmunity, the immune system attacks healthy tissue on the body itself, and in the case of alopecia, the hair follicles.
Alopecia areata is sometimes associated with other autoimmune conditions such as allergic disorders, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. It may occur within a family, suggesting that there is a genetic predisposition.
What are the types of Alopecia
- Areata – hair loss anywhere on the body, usually in patches
- Totalis - total hair loss on the scalp
- Universalis – total hair loss on the body
- Barbae - loss of facial hair
- Mucinosa – hair loss with scaly patches
- Androgenetic - male pattern baldness (thought to be hereditary)
- Traction – hair loss due to excessive pulling/tension on hair shaft
- Anagen Effluvium -hair loss from chemicals (ie: chemotherapy)
- Telegen Effluvium - thinning of the hair that usually recovers
- Scarring – scarring where the hair is lost
How is Alopecia treated medically?
The medical treatments available for alopecia include Corticosteroids, Minoxidil, Anthralin, Squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE), diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP), Sulfasalazine, Cyclosporine and photochemotherapy. In some cases the hair will grow back, other times the hair will grow back and fall out again and sometimes the hair will not grow at all. The side effects that come with these powerful drugs include thin skin, red lesions, shrinking of soft tissue, facial hair and acne, and many others.
How can alopecia be treated naturally?
The number of natural modalities for treating hair loss are numerous. Natural medicine addresses the individual’s current overall health which includes the following:
- diet and nutrition
- exercise and sleep patterns
- stress management
- relationships
- supplementation
- behaviour
- life purpose and fulfillment
- emotional well-being
If one or more of these areas are in a deficit, the body becomes unbalanced, enabling the disease process to set in. Natural medicine addresses the area of imbalance and strives to correct it using acupuncture, counselling, yoga, massage, diet, meditation, and other modalities.
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