What Is Alopecia And How Is It Treated?
Alopecia is an autoimmune disease that can affect different parts of the body depending on what type of alopecia you have. It may cause partial or total hair loss. You may lose part of the hair on your head, or you may lose your eyebrows, eyelashes, or hair on other parts of the body. You may also experience issues such as brittle nails or ridges on your nails. If you have been experiencing hair loss or noticed a difference in your nails, it could be alopecia. Make an appointment with your dermatologist to see if you have this disorder and to get the proper treatment. Read on for more information about alopecia and how it can be treated.
What Is Alopecia?
Again, alopecia is an autoimmune disease where hair loss is the main symptom of this disease. Hair loss occurs because the disease attacks the hair follicles in the body. Hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, but it is usually most noticeable when it affects the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Alopecia can affect those young and old, as well as people of any gender. This is not a disease that is contagious, so there's no worry about spreading it to others. However, if you have it, it could affect your children or other blood relatives, as they may be at a greater risk of developing this disease.
How Is Alopecia Diagnosed?
Alopecia is usually diagnosed once you have noticed hair loss or other types of issues, such as problems with your fingernails—they usually become brittle, peel, or have ridges in them. If you suspect you have alopecia, a blood test can be used to diagnose this issue, as can paying attention to the amount of hair loss you've had and where the hair loss has occurred. Be sure to report all other symptoms to determine if you have some other type of health concern.
How Is Alopecia Treated?
Alopecia can be treated in a few different ways, and depending on the age of the person affected, your treatments may vary. For children, applying a hair regrowth medicated serum directly to the affected area may help regrow hair. Other types of corticoid steroids applied to the affected area can also help. For adults, the same treatments can help, as can other types of treatment such as steroid injections at the site of your hair loss.
If you have suffered hair loss, whether it's patchy loss or all-over loss, you should consult your dermatologist with your concerns and symptoms and get a proper diagnosis so you can be treated properly for this disease.
