Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by tight hairstyles. Caught early, it is fully reversible and the hair can regrow.
Telogen effluvium, which is diffuse hair shedding due to a stressor, usually recovers spontaneously over 6-12 months even without treatment.
Cicatricial alopecia .
It involves inflammation that destroys hair follicles. The destroyed follicles get replaced by scar tissue, resulting in permanent hair loss in the area.
Is alopecia areata curable? It cannot be cured; however, it's possible to regrow hair. For some people, regrowth will happen without any help. Because alopecia areata cannot be cured, people who have regrowth can have more hair loss later.
Because the hair loss in androgenetic alopecia is an aberration of the normal hair cycle, it is theoretically reversible. Advanced androgenetic alopecia, however, may not respond to treatment, because the inflammation that surrounds the bulge area of the follicle may irreparably damage the follicular stem cell.
What Causes Androgenetic Alopecia? Androgenetic alopecia is caused by a combination of factors that includes your genetics and the effects of male sex hormones called androgens. More specifically, androgenetic alopecia is caused by a genetic sensitivity to the androgen DHT, or dihydrotestosterone.
In men, this condition is also known as male-pattern baldness. Hair is lost in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples. Over time, the hairline recedes to form a characteristic "M" shape. Hair also thins at the crown (near the top of the head), often progressing to partial or complete baldness.
Some have bouts of hair loss throughout their lives, while others only have one episode. Recovery is unpredictable too, with hair regrowing fully in some people but not others. There is no cure for alopecia areata, but there are treatments that help hair grow back more quickly.
Alopecia areata (patchy)
This type may convert into either alopecia totalis (hair loss across the entire scalp) or alopecia universalis (hair loss across the entire body), but most commonly it remains patchy.
Alopecia areata is a skin condition that causes a sudden loss of patches of hair on the scalp and sometimes other parts of the body (picture 1). It is nonscarring, which means that there is no permanent damage to the hair follicle.
Most temporary hair loss is telogen effluvium — a type of nonscarring, temporary alopecia that's triggered by certain life events and changes in your physical or psychological health. One of the most common causes of telogen effluvium is stress.
Stress and hair loss don't have to be permanent. And if you get your stress under control, your hair might grow back. If you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair, talk to your doctor.
Alopecia universalis
This is the most advanced (and rarest) form of alopecia areata. Alopecia universalis causes all of the hair on your body to fall out—including your eyebrows and eyelashes.
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.
In addition to standard medical treatments, there are also natural options you can try for androgenetic alopecia natural treatment. “Vitamins which contain saw palmetto, biotin, and other botanicals can help affect the hair growth pathways,” Robin Evans, MD, and dermatologist tells WebMD Connect to Care.
Spontaneous remission occurs in up to 80% of patients with limited patchy alopecia areata (AA) within 1 year. Therefore, not all patients of AA simplex/multiplex need extensive treatments, and "wait and see" is one of the choices for some patients.
You may start off with small patches of hair loss. These patches spread over time until the entire head is bald. Hair loss can begin suddenly and occur rapidly. If you have alopecia totalis, you may also have brittle, pitted nails.
Treatment options for alopecia areata include: Corticosteroids: anti-inflammatory drugs that are prescribed for autoimmune diseases. Corticosteroids can be given as an injection into the scalp or other areas, orally (as a pill), or applied topically (rubbed into the skin) as an ointment, cream, or foam.
Expert opinion: We have seen a link between AA and a dysfunctional gastrointestinal system which raised the hypothesis that an underlying intestinal inflammation drives the priming and dysregulation of immune cells that lead to hair follicle destruction.
Alopecia areata: Alopecia is the medical term for bald. Areata means patchy. This patchy baldness can develop anywhere on the body, including the scalp, beard area, eyebrows, eyelashes, armpits, inside your nose, or ears. Alopecia totalis: The person loses all hair on the scalp, so the scalp is completely bald.
A few people who develop alopecia areata will progress to total scalp baldness (alopecia totalis). Even fewer people will lose all scalp and body hair (alopecia universalis).
In a small study of patients who had complete loss of hair on their scalp or entire body, 57% had complete regrowth with methotrexate. If this medication works for you, you should see some regrowth in about 3 months after you begin taking it. If methotrexate fully regrows your hair, regrowth will take 6 to 12 months.
Symptoms of androgenetic alopecia
They each have a characteristic pattern of hair loss: Male pattern hair loss: Hair loss starts above the temples. The whole hairline recedes into an "M" shape. Hair at the top of the head also thins.
There are several therapies available for the treatment of this condition, with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and minoxidil most commonly used. Other current treatment options include laser therapy, scalp microneedling, hair mesotherapy, and hair transplantation.
Minoxidil — Minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine) is a medication that you apply directly to your scalp. You can buy it without a prescription. It promotes hair growth by lengthening the growth phase of hair follicles and causing more follicles to produce hair; then, the hairs that are produced tend to be larger and thicker.