Should you see a doctor if you have alopecia?

Author: Roma Hill  |  Last update: Wednesday, January 25, 2023

People with alopecia areata have a higher risk of certain diseases such as thyroid disease, atopic dermatitis, or other autoimmune diseases, so it is important to visit your primary care doctor regularly. The sooner these diseases are diagnosed, the easier they are to control.

Can doctors do anything for alopecia?

Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available. You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.

When should I see a doctor for alopecia?

See your doctor if you are distressed by persistent hair loss in you or your child and want to pursue treatment. For women who are experiencing a receding hairline (frontal fibrosing alopecia), talk with your doctor about early treatment to avoid significant permanent baldness.

What kind of doctor do you see for alopecia?

Dermatologist examining a patient with hair loss

To provide you with the right treatment, it's essential to know what's causing your hair loss. Dermatologists have expertise in diagnosing hair loss and counseling their patients on what may help them regrow their hair.

What happens if alopecia is left untreated?

Often, hair grows back within several months, even without treatment. It may grow in fine or white at first, but usually returns to its original texture and color with time. People with alopecia areata may lose and grow back their hair more than once, either in the same patches as before or in different patches.

Which doctor should I see if I’m losing my hair?

What triggers alopecia?

Causes of Alopecia Areata

In alopecia areata, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation. Researchers do not fully understand what causes the immune attack on hair follicles, but they believe that both genetic and environmental (non-genetic) factors play a role.

How long does alopecia usually last?

How Long does Hair Loss Last? In half of patients with alopecia areata, individual episodes of hair loss last less than one year, and hair grows back without treatment. These patients may experience recurrent episodes of hair loss that spontaneously regrow or respond quickly to treatments.

How much does it cost to fix alopecia?

On June 13, 2022, the FDA approved the first systemic treatment for severe alopecia areata: the oral tablet baricitinib (Olumiant). Without insurance coverage, baricitinib costs around $2,500 and $5,000 per month for 2-mg or 4-mg tablets, respectively.

Is alopecia very serious?

Alopecia areata isn't usually a serious medical condition, but it can cause a lot of anxiety and sadness. Support groups are out there to help you deal with the psychological effects of the condition. If you lose all your hair, it could grow back.

How do you stop alopecia from spreading?

Ways to Stop Alopecia Areata from Spreading or Worsening

Avoiding unnecessary hair or scalp trauma, reducing stress and analyzing your diet are all worthwhile endeavors when attempting to prevent alopecia areata from spreading.

What is the first stage of alopecia?

The first sign of alopecia areata is often a round or oval bald patch on the scalp.

How do doctors test for alopecia?

Can a Blood Test Detect Alopecia? Yes, a blood test can diagnose alopecia. Your doctor may order several blood works to determine the cause of the hair loss along with a scalp biopsy. In most cases, the particular lab tests your doctor could depend on accompanying symptoms or recent life changes you have.

How quickly does alopecia spread?

The extent of alopecia (how much hair has fallen out) varies and links to the different subtypes. Some said their hair loss involved one small patch about the size of a 1p coin which regrew after a few weeks or months. Others developed more patches which sometimes joined up into bigger bald areas over time.

What is the fastest way to cure alopecia?

There is currently no cure for alopecia areata, although there are some forms of treatment that can be suggested by doctors to help hair re-grow more quickly. The most common form of alopecia areata treatment is the use of corticosteroids, powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress the immune system.

What are the 3 types of alopecia?

Most people know alopecia to be a form of hair loss. However, what they don't always know is that there are three main types of the condition – alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.

What is the best way to deal with alopecia?

INTRALESIONAL CORTICOSTEROID INJECTIONS

This method of treatment — the most common form of treatment for alopecia areata — uses corticosteroids that are injected into bare patches of skin with a tiny needle. These injections are repeated about every four to six weeks and are usually given by a dermatologist.

Will my alopecia go away?

There is no cure for alopecia areata. If you have a few, small patches of hair loss on your head, it's likely your hair will grow back within a few months. Your doctor may not prescribe treatment in those cases. For larger areas of hair loss, your doctor may prescribe steroid injections under your scalp.

Is alopecia caused by stress?

A variety of factors are thought to cause alopecia areata (al-o-PEE-she-uh ar-e-A-tuh), possibly including severe stress. With alopecia areata, the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles — causing hair loss.

Can alopecia be cancerous?

Alopecia areata (AA) is an organ‐specific autoimmune disorder. Defective immune system related disorders are prone to increase the risk of cancer formation. However, the association among AA and variety of cancer types had never been studied.

Why is alopecia not covered by insurance?

According to Mayo Clinic, if your hair loss is caused by a medical condition, the cost of some treatments might be covered by insurance but in most cases, insurance will not cover hair loss treatment because hair loss is not a medical condition itself.

Will my alopecia get worse?

It may be progressive, meaning it gets worse over time, or it may not. For some people, small bare patches join together and turn into large patches. You're more likely to have extensive alopecia areata if: You have eczema.

Does insurance cover steroid injections for alopecia?

Three to six sessions are typically required. Steroid injections may promote hair growth for those with alopecia areata. These injections may be covered by insurance as part of treatment for this autoimmune disease.

What are the stages of alopecia?

The Ludwig scale defines three broad stages of hair loss. In stage 1, the hair on the top of the head begins thinning. In stage 2, the scalp starts to become visible. In stage 3, all of the hair at the crown may be lost, resulting in baldness.

Will alopecia spread?

Alopecia areata often begins suddenly with oval or round bald patches appearing most commonly on the scalp. Other areas of hairy skin may also be involved. Gradually, the affected skin becomes smooth. New patches may spread by joining existing bald patches.

What should be avoided in alopecia areata?

On the AIP elimination diet, you will avoid grains, legumes, nightshades (such as potatoes and peppers), dairy, eggs, coffee, alcohol, sugar, oil and food additives. After a few months, you can work the excluded foods back in one at a time to figure out which foods trigger an inflammatory reaction.

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