Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is thought to be an autoimmune condition in which the skin’s own immune system cells attack hairs at the roots, causing the hairs to fall out intact, leaving smooth, bare patches on the scalp or face. In some patients stress, pregnancy, major trauma or illness precedes hair loss. One-fifth of patients have a family history of Alopecia Areata. The condition is cyclical and unpredictable, and the hair can grow back or fall out again at any time. With limited hair loss of less than 40%, the hair will usually regrow in a few months. Dr. Anuj Pall is a well-known doctor for hair loss treatment in Gurgaon.
The preferred method of treatment performed by Dr. Pall is an intralesional corticosteroid injection. The corticosteroid fluid is slowly absorbed from the injection site to the local tissue for the maximum effect. The corticosteroid suppresses the T-cell immune attack on the hair follicles.
Another treatment is topical corticosteroids that involve three months of treatments before any hair regrowth can start and often requires maintenance therapy to limit the effects of alopecia.
Systemic steroids are infrequently used to halt the progression of Alopecia Areata.
Immunotherapy treatments use drugs that be irritating and may cause a mild contact dermatitis that stimulates the scalp hair to regrow
A full recovery of lost hair is common using intralesional steroids. The injections are repeated after 3 to 4 weeks depending upon the response.The goal of any therapy is to limit and control Alopecia Areata.
Male Pattern Baldness
Hair loss resulting in thinning is known as alopecia. When it is related to hormones (androgens) and genetics, it is known as androgenetic alopecia, or more commonly balding. Male pattern alopecia is characterised by a receding hairline and/or hair loss on the top and front of the head.
Male pattern hair loss or baldness is an inherited condition, caused by a genetically determined sensitivity to the effects of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT in some areas of the scalp. DHT is believed to shorten the growth, or anagen, phase of the hair cycle, from a usual duration of 3-6 years to just weeks or months. This causes miniaturisation of the follicles, and producing progressively fewer and finer anagen hairs. The production of DHT is regulated by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase.
Several genes are involved, accounting for differing age of onset, progression, pattern and severity of hair loss in family members. The susceptibility genes are inherited from both mother and father. Baldness can have a serious psychological impact. Studies have shown that hair loss can be associated with low self esteem, depression, introversion, and feelings of unattractiveness.
Current treatment options include:
Hair transplants. This type of procedure removes tiny plugs of skin, each containing a few hairs, from the back or sides of your scalp. The plugs are then implanted into the bald sections of your scalp. Several transplant sessions may be needed, as hereditary hair loss progresses with time.
Hair transplants. This type of procedure removes tiny plugs of skin, each containing a few hairs, from the back or sides of your scalp. The plugs are then implanted into the bald sections of your scalp. Several transplant sessions may be needed, as hereditary hair loss progresses with time.
Minoxidil is an over-the-counter liquid or foam that you rub into your scalp twice daily to grow hair and to prevent further loss. Some people experience some hair regrowth or a slower rate of hair loss or both. It may take 12 weeks for new hair to start growing. Minoxidil is available in a 2 percent solution and in a 5 percent solution. Side effects can include scalp irritation and occasionally unwanted hair growth on the adjacent skin of the forehead or face.
This prescription medication to treat male-pattern baldness is taken daily in pill form. Many men taking finasteride experience a slowing of hair loss, and some may show some new hair growth. Rare side effects of finasteride include diminished sex drive and sexual function.
Female Hair Loss
Most people normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. But with about 100,000 hairs in the scalp, this amount of hair loss shouldn’t cause noticeable thinning of the scalp hair. Hair loss can appear in many different ways. It can come on suddenly or gradually and affect just your scalp or your whole body. Some types of hair loss are temporary, while others are permanent. As people age, hair tends to gradually thin. Other causes of hair loss include hormonal factors, medical conditions (Thyroid disease, Ferritin & Vit B12 deficiencies) and medications.
Gradual thinning on top of head (Pattern Hair Loss): This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting both men and women.
Sudden loosening of hair (Telogen Effluvium): A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or even after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.
Female pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in women. A few women present with male pattern hair loss because they have excessive levels of androgens as well as genetic predisposition. These women tend also to suffer from acne, irregular menses and excessive facial and body hair. These symptoms are characteristic of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) although the majority of women with PCOS do not experience hair loss. Females that are losing their hair with age are more likely to present with female pattern hair loss, in which hormone tests are normal. Treatment options available are:
Medications & topical solutions
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)
Mesotherapy
Hair Transplant
The only medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat female pattern baldness is minoxidil. For women, the 2% concentration is recommended. In most women, it may slow or stop hair loss. You must continue to use this medicine for a long time. Hair loss starts again when you stop using it. Other medicines include spironolactone, cimetidine, birth control pills, ketoconazole, peptides, stemoxydine can be used depending on the need.