How to Treat Bald Spots?

October 08, 2019

If you're a guy, having the average receding line is one thing, but losing hair in patches is a whole different story. If you're a girl, imagine looking in the mirror to find that your hair is inexplicably gone in a noticeable patch. Alopecia might be easier for you to process if you start losing your hair because of heredity, but not if you suddenly wake up to round, hairless patches that came out of nowhere.

This type of hair loss is called alopecia areata, and we're going to tell you what this disorder is about, what you can expect, and how to treat bald spots derived from this problem with hair loss solutions or a good hair loss treatment for men.

What Is Alopecia Areata?

This type of alopecia obeys to an alteration in the immune system, which detects hair follicle cells as strange agents and starts attacking them. This results in the sudden loss of hair in delimited areas – round or oval patches of skin that usually start at the size of a coin – in different body parts. The most common place to start noticing hair loss is the scalp, but it can also happen on facial hair (beard, eyebrows, lashes), the pubic area, and others.

The skin in the area with hair loss looks normal and does not show scarring or irritation, but the patient might feel a slight itching, tingling or burning sensation. Otherwise, the patient might display abnormalities such as grooves, splitting, pits, or a reddened area on the nails.

Is There a Cure for Alopecia Areata?

There is no cure for alopecia areata, but regrowth is expected after a balding episode. After balding, vellus (fine white or fair hair) starts growing, and then normal hair regrows in most cases (within 6 to 12 months).
Alopecia areata behaves in an unpredictable way. In some cases, alopecia areata can progress to alopecia totalis (which causes hair loss all over the scalp) or alopecia universalis (which causes hair loss on the whole body).

When Does Alopecia Areata Start?

On average, alopecia areata has its onset between 15 to 30 years of age, and most people have their first episode between 25 and 27 years old. The most vulnerable group is people with other health issues such as vitiligo, thyroid imbalances, pernicious anemia, asthma, or a heredity background (one or more family member suffering from the same condition).

How Is Alopecia Areata Diagnosed?

Once the bald patches are discovered, the first thing to do is not to panic. Then, consult your physician, who will conduct several tests to make sure your hemoglobin and your thyroid hormones are within normal levels. This is to rule out any underlying issues.

The diagnose also includes carefully examining the bald spots to see the strength of hair and the state of the skin. in case of doubt, the examinations will likely include a biopsy.

How to Treat Bald Spots From Alopecia Areata?

The treatment for alopecia areata usually involves steroid injections or ointments. These medications prove to be effective in recovering lost hair in bald spots because they suppress the underlying immune reaction that causes them.

Minoxidil is a topical medication that encourages hair growth when used consistently. It has been shown to increase the diameter and density of hair growth. The main downside of this product is that it stops working if discontinued.

Some studies have shown that essential oils can bear good results when used topically on alopecia areata bald spots. Rosemary and tea tree oil are some of the most commonly used.

You will have to wear hats, scarves or other accessories to conceal the bald spots in case they are in very visible areas. Wigs or hairpieces are another good option.
When the bald spot happens on the brows, tinting or permanent makeup are good options. Some treatments include tiny dots of pigmentation (dermatography).

When you have already grown vellus hairs, you can consider covering the bald spots with keratin fibers, which are tiny fibers that attach to the remaining hairs. The mechanism by which this happens seems to be difficult, but it's actually a matter of different electrical charges from the hair and the fibers, which helps them cling together without being swept away by movement or water. You can learn everything about keratin fibers in our previous blog post "Keratin Hair Fibers: The #1 Instant Hair Loss Solution."

You may wonder what kind of hair care is appropriate for anyone with alopecia areata. Will regular shampoo, conditioner, serum, and other styling products worsen the condition? The answer is, no. The hair and scalp remain healthy despite the bald patches, so it's technically possible to continue using the same hair care you have always used. However, it's much better to switch to specialized thinning hair products. The reason is simple: they have been enriched with vitamins and minerals that nourish and stimulate the follicle; and most importantly, they are free of sulfates and parabens, so they are gentle to your hair.

The choice of treatment depends on the age of the patient, the seriousness of the lesions and the amount of hair loss, and the type of maintenance you are willing to upkeep.

Treat Your Hair Well

Not all is lost if you have noticed bald spots on your scalp lately. We hope our information has come in handy to help you understand alopecia areata and treat bald spots caused by it. You will need the help of a consistent hair loss treatment, so you can trust The Cosmetic Republic USA to get professional products to improve the condition of thinning hair. Call TOLL FREE 1-888-513-8815 or fill out the contact form below to get in touch with us. Also, subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest news right in your inbox.

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