Regrowing hair on a bald spot is often possible. You may need to try more than one type of treatment to get the results you want. Be patient and consider all your options as you approach this very common concern.
Also known as camouflaging products, topical concealers are cosmetic ways of hiding the bald spot without actually growing hair. The most commonly used camouflages include hair building fibers (a keratin based product in a shaker jar) which increase density when applied to the scalp near bald spots.
There is no cure for alopecia areata, but there are treatments that help hair grow back more quickly. There are also resources to help people cope with hair loss.
After hair stops shedding, the hair will slowly grow back. This can take 6 to 8 months for all the hair to grow back. The whole cycle takes about 12 months. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium.
Quite often the bald patch or patches regrow hair within a few months. If hair grows back, it may not have its usual colour at first and look grey or white for a while. The usual colour eventually returns after several months. Sometimes one or more bald patches develop a few weeks after the first one.
There are a variety of methods available for the regrowth of hair follicles, from using medication to massaging your scalp to stimulate your hair directly. Currently, the most effective way to reactivate your hair follicles is by using medication, such as finasteride and minoxidil.
“Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and may help in preventing hair shedding and thinning,” says Michele Green, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York. “The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.
The patches of hair loss can grow larger. Sometimes, the patches grow larger and become one large bald spot. Other signs that you may have alopecia areata include: Gray and white hairs often remain where you have hair loss.
It usually takes two weeks to get your hair back after shaving. After then they grow at the pace of half an inch per month.
Alopecia areata is a form of alopecia (hair loss). It's a non-life-threatening disease of your immune system that affects the hair on your scalp. With this condition, your body mistakenly views your hair follicles as an enemy. Your body attacks the hair follicles.
Lifestyle factors could include using certain hair products, wearing your hair up too tightly, experiencing high stress levels, or not getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals in your diet. People who have immune system deficiencies could also have thinning hair.
Make an appointment to see your doctor if: You suddenly develop a bald spot on your scalp. Your hair stylist tells you that your hair is thinning, or that you have small bald areas. You have lost your eyebrows or eyelashes, your beard is thinning, or you have noticeably less hair on your underarms or pubic area.
Biotin is essential for the production of a hair protein called keratin, which is why biotin supplements are often marketed for hair growth. Research has also shown that consuming more biotin can help improve hair growth in people with a biotin deficiency (3).
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Our favorite hair growth serum is the tried-and-true Women's Rogaine Minoxidil 5% Foam because it's highly effective and recommended by dermatologists. Another pick we love is Pura D'Or Hair Thinning Therapy Energizing Scalp Serum for its gentle, sulfate-free formula. According to dermatologist Dr.
Sources of Biotin
Foods that contain the most biotin include organ meats, eggs, fish, meat, seeds, nuts, and certain vegetables (such as sweet potatoes) [2,12].
How much B12 should I take daily for hair growth? The lowest amount recommended that should be traceable in your body is 2.4 mcg. While you are looking for a difference in your hair growth you can increase this dosage to 3 mcg and beyond.
Biblical accounts of hair loss
The second mention of hair loss lies in Leviticus 13:40-41, which proclaims that “a man has lost his hair and he is bald, he is clean.
If you are low in vitamin B12, a common recommended dose for oral supplements is about 1,000 mcg daily. But you should make sure to ask your healthcare provider about how much vitamin B12 you should look for in a supplement.