Human beings are obsessed with their appearance and that of others. Hair is an important part of how one’s looks; it shapes a person’s personality. A person’s personality totally changes when he/she changes their hairdo. Has anyone ever wondered as to what will happen if they suddenly go bald?
Alopecia Areata is a condition in which an individual suffers from sudden sporadic scalp baldness which may severe to full body baldness. It is non-communicable. It is an epidermis issue. It is the state where small, circular, and irregular blotches develop on the scalp.
Who are the potential patients of Alopecia Areata?
An individual who has a family history of this condition is likely to inherit it. This condition is found both in men and women; many children also experience patchy baldness at a very young age. In most instances, this condition is found prevalent for the age group of 20-30 years.
This condition occurs unexpectedly in most of the instances. Some scientists confirm that this condition occurs as a result of stress.
Those who have Diabetic genes or arthritis in their bloodline can also suffer from this condition. In this state, the body harms its hair follicles. Thus, alopecia areata is believed to be related to genetics. Hair loss is also observed when the human body goes through hormonal changes like during puberty or pregnancy.
Disorders like Thyroid, ringworm on the head, deficiency of protein, anemia, etc. also have hair loss as their by-product. One can record his/her medical reports, information about past diseases and disorders in their health diary; people can also track the reasons for hair loss using the same.
Causes
1) Genes
A person inherits certain diseases or ailments from his/her parents through the set of chromosomes. Health conditions like arthritis have unwelcome ramifications like hair loss.
2) Acquired diseases
Diseases that develop or acquired by an individual during the course of human life are acquired diseases. Diseases like nutrition deficiency- the reduction of protein, vitamin, iron, and calcium levels in the body also result in hair loss.
Symptoms
1) Sudden patchy hair loss
The patients also experience unexpected blotches of hair fall from the scalp, hair fall of other bodily hair, etc.. The blotches might feel inflammatory or stingy; one may experience a burning sensation on the affected areas.
2) Dry, dented nails
Visible changes in fingernails and toenails are one of the first few signs of Alopecia Areata, white speckles on stiff nails, which may become abnormally thin at times.
3) White hair
There is a chance that white hair may regrow on the affected scalp area.
4) Small hair around bald spots
Short hair may besiege the bald patches on a person’s head in a disc-like manner.
Home Remedies
One should try self-treatment at home using natural ingredients. Use of natural ingredients is always a good idea as natural ingredients are easily available, and are inexpensive, easy to use and can be accessed by anyone and everyone. Some of the home remedies for treating hair fall are the following, you can also visit Perfect Hair Health for more information:
1) Fenugreek seeds
Fenugreek hampers the release of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone; this hormone results in hair loss.
Immerse the fenugreek seeds in water for a night, granulate it to powder and add sufficient water to it to make a paste, apply the paste on hair roots, massage the scalp and rinse with shampoo after 30 minutes.
2) Raw Honey
Regular application of honey on scalp makes hair smooth and silky; it also alleviates the problem of hair fall. One can cure Alopecia by adding equal quantities of curd or lemon into raw honey and washing it off after waiting for about 15 to 20 minutes.
3) Curry Leaves
These pointed green leaves contain the right amount of essentials that help to treat hair fall. Heat curry leaves after placing them in coconut oil, store the black residue in a container, massage your head with it two times in a week.
4) Coconut Milk
It is easily available over the counter, knead the scalp, gently rinse with shampoo. One can either buy coconut milk directly from retail stores or can make it at home by squeezing coconut shavings.
5) Onion extract
Onion is a superfood ingredient; it is used in dressings for salads, in vegetables, and in soups too. On top of that, it can also treat alopecia. Grind one onion and squeeze it to release onion juice, it enhances hair growth and treats bald spots, it also increases blood circulation in the scalp. After applying onion juice wait for about a quarter of an hour, and wash head with warm water and shampoo. One can also rub onion skin on affected areas to get the desired results.
One can also use lavender oil, coconut oil, mustard oil, eggs, remains of green tea or petals of hibiscus flower to treat Alopecia.
Treatment
There is no sure shot treatment to combat or reduce hair fall, but doctors may prescribe certain ways to regrow lost hair.
1) Injections
Doctors may advice injecting scalp that has bald patches with treatment syringes which help regeneration and reconstruction of hair follicles. One should maintain a health diary if he/she intends to have such treatment in the future.
2) Regenerative pills
Doctors may prescribe pills for regeneration of damaged hair follicles, steroids that increase the rate of reconstruction of hair.
3) Contact immunotherapy
In this method, deliberate agitation of the skin is initiated to irritate the scalp; this method takes approximately 3-4 months to know if the method was successful.
4) Use of Products
Many brands promise to treat hair fall, but the consumers of those brands often remain unsatisfied with their underperformance. Many shampoo, conditioners, and other products state that they are the best to reduce hair fall.
Conclusion
Human beings are continuously conscious about their looks; hair builds an important part of one’s reputation; thick and dense hair gives confidence to an individual. Alopecia Areata is a hair condition where small, sporadic patches are noticeable; the causes of this condition can be genetic or acquired. It can be treated using home products or by consumption of medicines as prescribed by the concerned doctor.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.