Alopecia areata, commonly known as just alopecia or spot baldness, is an autoimmune disorder that affects roughly 2% of people. If you’re recently been losing an abnormal amount of hair, you may have alopecia. Maybe you’ve seen chunks of hair on your pillow or in the shower. Or maybe you’ve noticed coin-sized bald spots on your head. These are all signs of alopecia. And it doesn’t necessarily can also occur on the entire body, not just your head.

Autoimmune diseases cause your immune system to turn against your own body. In this case, hair follicles are being attacked and the result is spotted baldness from chunks of hair falling out. The baldness severity can vary depending on the person, ranging from little hair loss to a significant amount. It can even result in total baldness.

Unfortunately, Alopecia can’t be cured, but it can be treated. One option is taking anti-inflammatory prescription medicine specifically for autoimmune diseases. This medicine comes in the form of pills, injections to the scalp, or a cream.

Another option for treating alopecia is applying chemicals to your scalp, creating an allergic reaction. This process is called topical immunotherapy. The allergic reaction cause hair to regrow, but the downside is an itchy and dry scalp.

Laser hair therapy is also a treatment. Using the laser, you can stimulate hair follicles in an attempt to grow your hair back.

You can also use treatments like minoxidil and biotin.

Be mindful that all of these treatments don’t always work, but provide the opportunity for hair growth.

Alopecia typically occurs when there’s a family history of the autoimmune disease. If you think you may have it, check with your family about ancestors or distant relatives that also had it. You should also schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis.

If you’re having hair thinning or hair loss issues, Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Fort Worth can help you regain confidence and regrow hair.

Contact us now for a free consultation!