Alopecia areata or focal alopecia in women: treatment with medications, folk remedies and physiotherapeutic procedures. Alopecia areata in women: treatment

The problem of hair loss is currently very relevant.

Today, there are ways to treat alopecia areata in women.

Alopecia areata is quite common in women; it can be treated in several ways, for example, using:

• conservative treatment;
• physiotherapy;
• topical drugs;
• hair transplants;
• traditional medicine.

Conservative treatment

Thanks to the development of modern medicine, alopecia areata in women can be treated at any stage of development. With the help of drug therapy, you can stop the loss of healthy hair and accelerate hair growth in areas of baldness.

Currently, the pharmacological market offers a huge selection of various medications against baldness. One such drug is Spironolactone.

This drug is available in tablet form. Treatment of focal baldness with Spironolactone allows you to stop the loss of healthy hair. For slight baldness, the course of treatment with the drug is 1 month. For large-scale hair loss, treatment can last 3-4 months.

The drug Spironolactone is often used to treat hair loss.

Alopecia in women, which is treated conservatively, involves taking Minoxidil. This drug can also be used to treat alopecia in men. Minoxidil comes in liquid form. The product should be applied directly to areas of baldness 2 times a day for 3-4 months. The action of the medication is aimed at expanding hair follicles and rapid hair growth.

The action of Finasteride is that it prevents the increase in the hormone dihydrotestosterone, which is formed in the hair follicles. The dosage of the drug is prescribed by the attending physician, since self-medication can lead to the opposite effect. An overdose of the drug leads to thinning hair and even more hair loss. Finasteride is contraindicated in the treatment of alopecia in childhood, pregnancy and lactation.

Cimetidine is on the list of effective medications for the treatment of alopecia in women. This medication has antiandrogenic properties, so Cimetidine is prescribed exclusively for the treatment of female pattern baldness.

Before using Finasteride, you should consult your doctor.

Local treatment of alopecia

If alopecia is diagnosed, in women the causes and treatment are determined by the doctor. Treatment for baldness depends on the cause, form and stage of baldness. A positive result at any stage of alopecia can be achieved using local treatment.

When treating alopecia areata, doctors recommend using special shampoos. Alerana shampoo has proven itself very well. The manufacturer Vertex presents a wide selection of various dermatological products. The company produces two lines of products specifically for women and men. Alerana shampoos are presented for dry and oily hair.

The action of the shampoo is aimed at stimulating hair growth and strengthening weakened hair follicles. The shampoo contains poppy milk, lecithin, vitamin B5, nettle extract and tea tree oil.

For alopecia, dermatological shampoos such as Selentsin, Fitoval, Rinfoltil and Vichy have a therapeutic effect.

Selencin medicinal shampoo can help in the treatment of alopecia.

Local preparations include ointments. For alopecia, Fluorocort ointment has proven itself well. This ointment belongs to the group of glucocorticosteroid drugs. The effect of the ointment is to increase vascular permeability in the area of ​​baldness, nourish the hair follicles and accelerate hair growth. Apply the ointment in a thin layer to the affected areas of the head 2 times a day. In case of large-scale baldness, you can apply ointment in the form of a compress to the area of ​​baldness. The minimum course of treatment is 3-4 weeks.

Side effects of the drug include itching and skin irritation. The ointment is not recommended for use in case of fungal skin diseases, during pregnancy or in the presence of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. The use of the drug is extremely undesirable in childhood.

When treating alopecia in women, doctors prescribe topical corticosteroid ointments. These drugs include ointment Locacorten, Dermatop, Ultralan. For total baldness, doctors prescribe Lokoid, Valoderm, Flucinar or Ultralan ointment.

Physiotherapy

Almost every third person on the planet is currently facing the problem of pathological loss of healthy hair.

Alopecia areata in women is effectively treated with physiotherapy. The advantages of this method of treatment include safety, local improvement in nutrition of the scalp, long-lasting effect and the possibility of use at any age.

A course of treatment with physiotherapeutic procedures is prescribed by a trichologist. For alopecia, medicinal electrophoresis, ultrasound therapy, heat therapy, cryotherapy and head massage are performed.

Alopecia areata responds well to treatment using galvanization. The principle of treatment is to apply a weak electric current to the body. When a low discharge passes through the skin, it generates heat, new biological enzymes and active components are formed, metabolism is restored and skin microcirculation improves, blood flow increases and the functioning of the endocrine system is normalized. In the presence of malignant diseases, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, such a procedure is extremely undesirable.

Electrophoresis is used in modern medicine in the treatment of many diseases; focal baldness in women is no exception. Medicines are injected in small doses under the skin using an electric current. The result of the procedure lasts much longer. Treatment in this way involves at least 8-10 sessions.

Ozone therapy is used for both the prevention and treatment of alopecia.

Electrophoresis stimulates blood flow to the scalp, prevents further loss of healthy hair, and eliminates itching.

The procedure is contraindicated during pregnancy and the presence of scratches and abrasions.

In recent years, darsonvalization has become a very relevant method of treating alopecia in women. The essence of the method is to apply high frequency electric current to the scalp. This treatment method improves nutrition of hair follicles, increases microcirculation in the affected areas, relaxes muscles and increases vascular permeability. The procedure is carried out using a special comb. The course of treatment ranges from 10 to 15 procedures. Dermatitis and the presence of a tumor are considered contraindications for darsonvalization.

Alopecia areata in women is treated with cryotherapy. The essence of the method is to expose the bald areas to low temperatures. As a result of treatment, blood circulation in areas of baldness and metabolism in tissues improves.

Hair transplantation

For total baldness, there is only one treatment option - surgical hair transplantation. As a rule, hair is transplanted from the back of the head to the problem area. This treatment is used in cases of androgenetic or scarring alopecia. Surgical hair transplant is performed in several ways.

If other methods do not help, then you can resort to hair transplantation.

Hair implantation is an operation in which artificial hair is transplanted under the scalp. This method of operation is performed only for total baldness. Physiotherapeutic procedures and conservative treatment in this case will be ineffective. Hair is made from artificial material, which is similar in structure to human hair. Today there is a wide range of artificial hair available. The patient can choose not only hair color, but also curly or straight hair.

The second type of surgery is hair transplantation. In this case, hair follicles with a small piece of skin are removed from the occipital or temporal area and transplanted onto the bald areas. Hair transplantation is performed for alopecia areata. The result can last for a long time.

Hair follicles, which are located in the parietal or frontal region, contain the androgen hormone. It is this hormone that promotes baldness, which is why hair most often falls out in these areas. And the hair follicles, which are located in the occipital and temporal zones, are deprived of this hormone, which is why they are used in the process of hair transplantation.

The average duration of the operation is 3-4 hours. Depending on the area of ​​baldness, the time may vary. After transplantation, hair begins to grow on its own within 2-3 months.

Hair transplantation for baldness can be performed in several ways. In the first case, doctors cut off rectangular sections of skin and attach them to the area of ​​baldness. This creates a new hairline. A narrower strip may be used. But most often, when performing a hair transplant, small cylinders are cut off. Healthy hair follicles are transplanted to a place previously cleared of the top layer of skin.

Traditional method of treatment

Alopecia in women is effectively treated using traditional methods. Alternative medicine in the treatment of baldness is not the main one. But its use significantly speeds up the healing process.

A mask based on garlic and yolk has a therapeutic effect. It can be done for any form of alopecia. To prepare a healing mask you will need to take 2-3 tbsp. l. vegetable oil, one large clove of garlic and 2 egg yolks. Finely chop or grate the garlic and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Apply the mask to the hair roots with massage movements. Leave for 5-7 minutes. Then wash off the mask with shampoo. This procedure should be carried out once every 2 days.

Baldness in women, the causes of which lie in stress, is well treated with a mask of aloe juice and rye flour. In order to prepare the mask, you need to pass fresh aloe leaves through a meat grinder and squeeze out 2 tbsp. l. juice

To prepare the recipe you will also need 1.5 tbsp. l. rye flour. Mix flour with 50 ml of boiling water. Add aloe juice to the resulting mixture and mix thoroughly until smooth. Apply the mask to the affected area of ​​skin with massage movements. You need to keep the mask for about 1.5-2 hours. Then rinse your hair in nettle decoction.

Alopecia areata can be treated with St. John's wort oil. Grind St. John's wort leaves. Place 500 ml of crushed St. John's wort in a container and pour olive oil over the herb until the oil covers the leaves. Place the container in a dark place for 14-20 days. Soak a cotton pad in the oil and gently rub into the roots of your hair using light circular movements. The oil can be applied to areas of baldness as a compress for 15-20 minutes.

The problem of baldness can be dealt with using pumpkin pulp and parsley. To do this, grate the pumpkin pulp on a fine grater. Pour boiling water over the resulting mixture for 15-20 minutes. At this time, chop fresh parsley with roots and add water in a ratio of 1:2. Place the container in a water bath and bring to a boil. Then mix the parsley decoction with pumpkin pulp. Apply the resulting mass to the hair roots. Wrap a towel around the top. Keep the mask on for 2 hours. Then rinse your hair in warm running water.

Burdock root has worked well for alopecia areata. To prepare the decoction you will need 3 tbsp. l. chopped fresh burdock and marsh calamus. Pour the resulting herbal mixture into 1 liter of water. Place the contents on the fire and boil over low heat for 15-20 minutes. The resulting decoction can be rubbed into the roots or used to rinse hair.

What is noteworthy is that alopecia areata can occur at any age and is very difficult to treat. As a result, not only severe hair loss is possible, but also complete baldness.

Unfortunately, experts have not yet come to a unanimous decision as a result of which the disease occurs, but there is an opinion about a genetic predisposition.

Today we know about several of the most popular types of alopecia areata:

• absent-minded;
• subtotal;
• total.

The first type is diagnosed if there is only one round-shaped affected area (for example, located on the top of the head). Localized focal alopecia occurs in both women and male patients.

The subtotal form of the disease is characterized by damage to a large part of the hair, not only on the head, but also in the armpits, eyebrows or beard (in male patients).

Finally, the third, most severe form of the disease - the hardest to treat - affects all existing vegetation on the patient’s body. The skin on the affected areas has a painful appearance, undergoes profuse sweating, and becomes very pale.

Alopecia areata varieties

But there are other forms of the disease - less common:

• spotty focal alopecia, the symptoms of which are very small affected areas localized throughout the head (up to a centimeter in diameter);
• a universal type of disease, in which the patient has bald areas with clear contours on the skin of the arms and legs, the volume of hair in the armpits is greatly reduced or disappears completely (with universal alopecia, patients complain of VSD and poor condition of the nail plates);
• crown-shaped baldness, which occurs in children and women (there are no other symptoms of pathology);
• marginal type of focal alopecia, diagnosed in childhood and requiring a long period of treatment (hair falls out at the edges, on the temples and in the occipital region, forming a rim);
• exposing alopecia is a type of focal disease that gradually affects larger areas of healthy skin.

What symptoms indicate illness?

The main symptom of the disease - baldness - begins to appear most often at the age of fifteen. If the patient notices the primary signs - small areas of alopecia and goes to the clinic, the tests will not show any serious disturbances in the functioning of the body. Patients at the initial stage of the disease also do not complain about their well-being.

But over time, the pathology affects increasingly larger areas, forming one large bald spot. At the same time, the hair becomes thin and easily falls out along with the bulb. If the patient has a progressive form of the disease, then treatment of alopecia areata in men or women is ineffective, resulting in total baldness.

What is noteworthy is that the focal form of the pathology sometimes simply disappears, for no apparent reason and even in the absence of treatment. At the same time, sometimes doctors are surprised to note the resumption of normal hair growth - proper thickness and structure. Unfortunately, after some time, a relapse occurs.

What are the causes of alopecia

If we talk about the reasons, then today there is no precisely established option. But there are some moments in the life of patients that precede the manifestation of the disease. They are considered to be possible causes of the development of the disease.

So, the causes of alopecia areata may be the following:

• prolonged stay in a depressed state;
• constant stress;
• chronic form of certain types of infections;
• various physical injuries that provoke the production of heat shock proteins in the patient’s body (as a result of this process, the immune system begins to fight an invisible enemy);
• the transfer of certain types of autoimmune pathologies, in which follicle cells are mistakenly perceived by the immune system as “enemies” (as a result, antibodies are produced that kill healthy follicles);
• lupus (one of the causes of baldness in women) is characterized by increased body temperature, drowsiness and malaise;
• genetic predisposition.

Interestingly, there has been a correlation between baldness and dental caries, both in females and males. But it should be noted that most often the treatment of focal type of alopecia in women is associated with the normalization of the endocrine system, since it is the thyroid gland that is responsible for the balance of hormones in the body.

Features of diagnosis and therapy

If a problem exists, it needs to be fixed! Experts have been doing this for a long period of time. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to find one universal remedy for a complete and quick cure, but there are still a huge number of drugs aimed at partially eliminating the problem.

What should you do if you discover the first signs of baldness in yourself or your child? To begin with, make an appointment with a trichologist - a doctor specializing in pathologies of the scalp.

Unfortunately, in small provincial towns it is impossible to find even a private office of such a specialist. Don’t let the problem take its course - spend time and money visiting a trichologist, even if for this you need to go to a neighboring city or regional center.

The doctor will first prescribe an examination that will identify the possible cause of baldness. After this, a diagnosis will be made and treatment will be prescribed. In addition to a trichologist, you need to consult a dentist, otolaryngologist, and for women, also a gynecologist.

Alopecia areata: photos before and after treatment

You cannot do without consulting an endocrinologist who will recommend conducting a blood test to determine the level of hormones in the body. After all, it is quite possible that they were the cause of the development of such a disease as alopecia areata; treatment in this case will include drugs that normalize the level of hormones in the body.

For a complete examination it is necessary to carry out the following activities:

1. Rule out mycoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis and Epstein-Barr virus by taking a blood test.
2. Test blood for CMV.
3. Make sure, if the patient is a child, that he does not have helminthiasis or giardiasis.
4. Get your hormones tested.

The process of full therapy includes a whole range of activities:

• taking vitamins;
• physiotherapeutic procedures (ozone therapy, biological stimulation of hair follicles with laser);
• taking medications and dietary supplements.

In advanced cases, therapy can be more complex - for example, for the treatment of alopecia areata in children, transplantation is sometimes indicated, in which healthy follicles are transplanted along with the dermis to the affected areas.

Unfortunately, alopecia areata is still poorly understood, so you should not hope for a quick recovery. However, stick to the trichologist’s prescriptions, follow all his instructions, and it is quite possible that you will soon have beautiful thick hair.

Video why women go bald. Alopecia areata.

Patchy (also known as patchy) baldness is a disease that affects both men and women with equal frequency and is manifested by the appearance of rounded areas of skin devoid of hair. The peak incidence is observed before the age of 25 years.

Very often, a round bald spot on the head is an accidental discovery when combing, especially among those with long hair, since the hair falls out without any subjective sensations.

What is alopecia areata and what to do if you find such a rounded lesion in yourself or your loved ones, read our article.

In children

In children, alopecia areata is quite rare compared to other types of alopecia, and the first symptoms of the disease most often develop after 3 years.

Development theories

To date, the causes of the development of the disease have not been established, therefore scientists have developed theories according to which focal baldness begins as a symptom of one of the diseases or conditions of the body.

There are observations according to which alopecia areata often occurs in those parents who also had episodes of localized hair loss in childhood.

In animals, genetic pathology with similar manifestations occurs, when it became established, hairless breeds of cats (sphynxes), dogs, rats, and, more recently, guinea pigs were obtained. In humans, the reliability of the hereditary theory of the development of alopecia areata is debated.

Endocrine theory

According to this theory, the development of focal baldness is associated with diseases of the thyroid gland.

Neuroendocrine theory

The disease develops as a reaction of the child’s body to psychological and mental trauma. This theory is supported by the fact that alopecia areata often develops simultaneously with vitiligo.

It is believed that nervous shock and emotional overstrain can cause disturbances in the functioning of the immune system when one's own immune cells or immune complexes damage the skin and hair follicles in it.

The likelihood of developing persistent local spasm of skin vessels under the influence of stress factors, which leads to impaired growth and hair loss, is also discussed.

Theory of the influence of local infection

It has been noticed that alopecia areata often develops in those children who have foci of chronic infection in their bodies: often recurrent purulent otitis media, purulent inflammation of the palatine tonsils (tonsillitis), dental caries (pathogenic bacteria also multiply there), osteomyelitis and others.

How it manifests itself

Typically, the first manifestation is rounded lesions on the scalp where the hair falls out completely. Such a lesion may be single, but there may also be multiple lesions. The edges of the lesion are clear. The diameter of the bald areas can range from 1 to 10 centimeters. The lesions grow along the periphery and gradually merge.

Hair on the border with the area of ​​baldness is easily pulled out. This is the so-called “loose hair zone”. The skin in the bald area is not changed. It is of normal color, there may be slight redness, there is no peeling or crusting, the hair follicles are enlarged.

Before hair loss, hair changes in a certain way. The hair breaks off at a distance of about 3 mm above the skin. The part of the hair shaft just above the skin becomes thinner and loses pigment. As a result, the lost hair has a normal root, a thinned part at the base of the hair shaft and a normal structure of the rest of the hair shaft.

Externally, such hair somewhat resembles an exclamation point “!”. Often, simultaneously with hair loss or a little earlier, a change in the shape and structure of the nails begins. The nail plates become thin, tiny, easily peel, and longitudinal grooves and depressed areas appear on their surface.

In a special, ophiasis form of the disease, hair begins to fall out from the back of the head towards the temples or along the entire circumference of the head from the border of hair growth.

This form of alopecia areata and nail damage are considered unfavorable signs, indicating the intensity of the process and a high likelihood of developing malignant (universal) alopecia, when hair falls out throughout the body. Malignant alopecia has virtually no cure.

A poor prognosis also applies to those children who:

• the disease began in early childhood;
• episodes of baldness were accompanied by the appearance of a large number of large areas or complete loss of hair on the head;
• severe damage to the nails began long before the appearance of areas of baldness;
• Alopecia areata is combined with atopic dermatitis.

Diagnostics

The disease has virtually no other symptoms other than the appearance of patches of hair loss. Sometimes there may be a slight tingling or slight itching just before hair loss begins.

The most common complaint is psychological discomfort from changing one’s appearance. To make a diagnosis, it is important to find the hair in the shape of an exclamation point and exclude any other diseases that may cause hair loss in limited areas of the skin. To do this, do:

Trichogramma

At the border of the baldness zone, 25-50 hairs are pulled out and examined under a microscope to determine the structure of the hair and the stages of its growth.

Biopsy of the scalp

Taking a skin sample and its histological examination allows us to exclude cicatricial baldness in lupus or lichen planus and forced hair pulling in a mental illness such as trichotillomania (an irresistible desire to pull out one’s own hair and, quite often, eat it), skin atrophy in a disease such as Broca’s pseudopelades.

Photo: Broca's pseudopelades disease

Skin scraping

Usually the scraping is taken to exclude a fungal skin disease, which can lead to local hair loss. This happens with microsporia and trichophytosis. First, the skin flakes are examined under a microscope to find mycelium cells in them.

If nothing can be found microscopically, then culture is carried out on a nutrient medium, where the fungus, if present in the sample, grows and manifests itself.

General clinical examinations

A general and biochemical blood test, a stool test for worm eggs and others are prescribed to rule out the presence of anemia, diseases of the endocrine and nervous system, helminthic infestation, and local foci of chronic infection in the body.

All these studies are prescribed to the patient at the discretion of the doctor only in cases where the diagnosis is unclear. In most cases, the characteristic appearance of the lesions, the absence of complaints and changes in the shape of the hair allow a diagnosis to be made already during the first visit to a trichologist.

Basic principles of treatment

In children, in the case of the first episode of patchy hair loss, treatment is not prescribed in cases where the child himself is not very concerned about changes in his own appearance. The wait-and-see approach is justified because in more than half of patients with a single lesion, hair growth resumes spontaneously within a year, without any treatment.

For this period, general restorative therapy may be prescribed: iron supplements, vitamins A, E, C, PP, group B or ready-made vitamin-mineral complexes, the amino acid methionine, phytin, riboflavin.

If hair loss traumatizes the child, several lesions occur simultaneously, or baldness covers the entire scalp, treatment begins immediately, without a period of waiting and observation.

For this purpose they prescribe:

• Topical glucocorticosteroids

Corticosteroid hormones are usually prescribed as a topical lotion or ointment. Usually they start with lotion, which is applied to areas of hair loss once a day in the evening. If the lotion dries out the skin too much, you can start using ointment. The course of treatment is three weeks, followed by a week break. Usually, to obtain a lasting effect, it is necessary to undergo 3-4 courses of treatment with corticosteroids.

A faster effect can be obtained by intradermal administration of corticosteroids. But this method of administration is only available in a medical facility for children over 10-12 years of age who are willing to endure the pain of injections. Injections are repeated once every 4-6 weeks until a lasting effect is obtained. For intradermal injections, diprospan or triamcinolone acetonide can be used.

• Anthralin

Anthralin is commonly used as a local irritant that causes contact dermatitis and blocks the activity of immune system cells at the site of exposure. Treatment with anthralin is a labor-intensive method and requires parental supervision and close cooperation with the doctor, but it is good for those who prefer to carry out treatment at home.

• Diaminecyclopropenone

This drug belongs to the group of immunomodulators, therefore it can only be used in those children who have reached the age of 12, whose baldness area is more than 30% of the area of ​​the scalp and who do not benefit from other treatment methods. Diaminecyclopropenone is used only in hospital settings, where doctors have enough experience working with this drug.

• Systemic use of corticosteroid hormones

In children, taking corticosteroid hormones to treat alopecia areata is ineffective and produces a large number of side effects. The use of such drugs can also be argued against by the fact that after stopping the use of corticosteroids, a relapse of alopecia areata may develop.

• Local phototherapy

Phototherapy is usually used in combination with topical medications that increase the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet light. But the effectiveness of this method for treatment is low. Phototherapy is best used to maintain the effect of treatment after recovery.

Photo: local phototherapy for hair

• Minoxidil

With prolonged use of the drug, there may be a slight increase in hair growth in areas of baldness, but complete hair restoration does not occur. In Germany, minoxidil is generally banned for the treatment of alopecia areata in children as ineffective.

• Physiotherapy

At the treatment stage, only one method gives good results - local cryotherapy. Typically, the course requires 20-25 sessions, which are held every other day or every day.

Sometimes the course has to be repeated. Other methods of physiotherapy can be used only after clinical recovery, as maintenance procedures. Usually, you can use darsonval or a laser comb for this at home.

Each person has their own hair loss rate and depends on heredity. Find out what it is.

Is there a relationship between baldness and testosterone? Does high testosterone cause hair loss? These questions interest many men. Details.

Alopecia areata in women

In women, alopecia areata occurs between the ages of 20 and 50 years, with the peak of the first appearance of the disease occurring before the age of 25 years. If we talk about the reasons, then in women the neuroendocrine mechanism of development of alopecia areata predominates in frequency.

Manifestations of the disease are identical to those in children. In adults, alopecia areata has its own classification.

By area affected:

• focal;
• subtotal: the lesions grow and merge with each other, but between areas of complete absence of hair there are islands or strips of hair separating them;
• total: complete absence of hair on the head;
• universal: hair falls out on the head, eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic and armpit hair.

By type of affected area:

• ophiaz: hair loss from the hairline in the occipital region and temples, spreading to the crown;
• pseudosyphilitic: At the same time, many small foci of several mm in diameter appear, which often come into contact with each other;
• cutting: In this form of the disease, hair does not fall out in patches, but breaks off at a short distance from the skin.

Separately in the classification is diffuse alopecia areata, in which hair falls out not in separate areas with clear boundaries, but evenly over the entire head without the formation of noticeable bald spots.

Video: Female pattern baldness: causes and solutions

According to the stage of the disease:

• progression stage: slight redness and burning may be observed in the lesion, especially along its periphery, an area of ​​loose hair appears, broken hair in the shape of an exclamation mark;
• stationary stage: the skin is of normal color or pale, there is no area of ​​loose hair;
• regression stage: vellus hair, devoid of pigment, first appears over the entire surface of the lesion, which is then replaced by normal pigmented hair.

To confirm the diagnosis, in addition to the listed examination methods, a blood test for syphilis is added to exclude the syphilitic nature of the lesions.

Signs of an unfavorable course of the disease in adults:

• presence of the disease in parents or other close blood relatives;
• concomitant atopic dermatitis;
• presence of an autoimmune disease;
• frequent relapses of the disease;
• ophiasis, total or universal form of the disease;
• severe damage to the nail plates;
• loss of re-growing vellus hair.

What to do if you accidentally notice a round bald spot on yourself:

• if there is only one lesion and it does not reach three centimeters in diameter, then it is worth observing: if the area of ​​hair loss does not expand, if new lesions do not appear, then such a lesion will heal on its own within three to four months without treatment;

The lesions are multiple, the lesions grow and merge with each other:

• do not look for answers and treatment recommendations on forums (except perhaps for recommendations on choosing a specialist who should be trusted to treat your hair), you should immediately contact a trichologist;
• In addition to general clinical tests, donate blood from a vein for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, mycoplasma, toxoplasma;
• donate blood from a vein for hormones of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands and pituitary gland;
• contact a psychotherapist and, if chronic anxiety is detected (you can identify acute anxiety without a psychotherapist), signs of depression, receive the necessary psychotherapeutic and medicinal treatment.

Treatment is carried out approximately the same as in children. Corticosteroids are used locally and intradermally, locally irritating and immunomodulating drugs. But folk remedies that have a local irritating effect play a major role in treatment for women, due to their availability and the absence of side effects.

Locally irritating effects are exerted by: onion juice, mustard, red hot pepper, cognac and alcohol-containing tinctures of medicinal fruits and herbs. These products can be used in the form of masks before washing your hair, or can be applied daily in the evening or twice a day to the hair roots in the form of medicinal tinctures.

Also, folk remedies that can be used are acupuncture and acupuncture, aromatherapy, evening primrose oil (both alone and as part of hair masks), and zinc.

In medical institutions, a variety of physical procedures can be used at home, the main ones being darsonval, low-intensity laser radiation.

It is necessary to take into account the fact that in some women alopecia areata not only cannot be cured, it is not even possible to stop its progression up to the loss of all hair on the head and body.

Baldness in men

The only difference between alopecia areata in men is the likelihood of patches of baldness in the mustache and beard area. The presence of such lesions is especially unpleasant for men with dark hair, in whom, even after shaving, dark hair shows through the skin and makes bald spots noticeable.

Treatment is carried out with the medications described above, folk remedies and physiotherapy methods. Areas of baldness on the beard can be treated and hair growth can be restored, or you can do laser hair removal on the cheeks, mustache area and chin so that the stubble does not remind you of the presence of bald spots.

Video: Alopecia areata

How to treat alopecia areata on the beard:

• treatment of any diseases that the patient has until recovery or clinically significant remission, prevention of exacerbations;
• It is undesirable to use glucocorticosteroids and immunomodulators on the face, as the risk of side effects increases;
• photochemotherapy: the use of ultraviolet radiation after the application of special preparations that increase the skin's sensitivity to UV radiation;
• the use of biogenic stimulants: hirudotherapy, the use of drugs containing leech saliva extract;
• the use of zinc and silicon preparations, which improve hair growth and structure;
• locally irritating drugs: turpentine ointment, naphthalan alcohol, tincture of red hot pepper, chilibuhi;
Here .

Alopecia areata in children is similar in its symptoms to Broca's pseudopelade. The skin in the affected areas is also smooth and even, with a natural shade. See photos of this type of baldness.

If treatment for alopecia areata is ineffective:

• always remind yourself that even with hair loss, you feel well and can do your usual activities: work, meet people, play sports;
• alopecia areata does not affect life expectancy;
• there are many other people who live with this problem;
• You can value yourself not only for the amount of hair on your head and body;
• use sunscreen;
• use glasses to protect your eyes from the sun and dust if eyebrows and eyelashes are missing;
• use an ointment with antimicrobial and antiviral effects if hair falls out in the nostrils;
• choose a wig or stylish headdress to reduce the impact of hair loss on your appearance;
• Permanent makeup will help to disguise the absence of eyelashes, which in this case can also be used for men;
• to disguise lesions on the beard, you can use the same tattoo that is used by women to correct the shape of their eyebrows;
• If the areas of baldness are small, they can be masked with a special spray or mascara matched to the tone of the hair.

Focal (pattern) baldness occurs in both children and adults. The disease can appear at any age, but for most people the first symptoms appear in childhood or adolescence. Up to 60% of cases of focal baldness are diagnosed before the age of 20.

Alopecia areata is the most common (after androgenetic alopecia) cause of hair loss. According to statistics, up to 2% of people who visit a dermatologist experience focal baldness.

In the United States, the prevalence of this disease is 0.1-0.2%, and baldness occurs not only in men, but also in women.

The process of focal baldness

Patchy baldness, like all other types of hair loss, is a dermatological disease and can appear at any age.

This disease usually affects the scalp, but can also affect other hairy parts of the body. Cases of focal baldness in the area of ​​the armpits and even loss of eyelashes and eyebrows have been described.

Changes in the skin usually appear suddenly. The course of the disease itself is very diverse and differs significantly from patient to patient. There may be one area of ​​baldness that persists for a long time, or new areas may constantly appear.

Hair growth most often returns spontaneously a few months after treatment. The disease is characterized by relapses and periodic exacerbations.

There are three main types of focal baldness: normal alopecia areata, generalized focal baldness and complete focal baldness. Sometimes it happens that the hair does not grow back, and then they talk about malignant focal baldness.

In this case, there is also no reaction to the course of treatment. Normal focal baldness is characterized by the presence of round and oval lesions in the scalp area, which, as a rule, merge with each other. In the case of complete and generalized focal hair loss, there is a complete absence of hair on the scalp.

During the course of the disease, apart from complete or partial baldness, no changes in the skin are observed. In a significant proportion of cases, approximately 12-15%, dystrophic changes in the nails can occur with hair loss. These types of changes are much more common in children.

Sometimes changes in the nails may be the only sign of an ongoing disease process. It should also be noted that focal baldness can coexist with diseases of the thyroid gland, vitiligo and other diseases that are based on autoimmune factors.

Causes of focal baldness

Factors leading to the development of focal baldness are still remain unclear. It is assumed that in 20% of cases there are hereditary causes. Although the cause of the disease is not known, genetic factors, stress, mental disorders, disorders of the endocrine glands and immunological factors are believed to have a significant influence. There are also many other hypotheses regarding the causes of the disease.

One of the factors leading to excessive hair loss is hormones responsible for the development of male characteristics. They adversely affect hair follicles and lead to loss of their function.

Damaged hair follicles are unable to produce hair or produce hair in an abnormal manner. Baldness can also be associated with temporary hormonal changes (such as pregnancy or menopause in women) or sudden changes in hormonal therapy.

Excessive hair loss may be caused by mechanical factors (for example, hair pulling), harmful (for example, heavy metal poisoning) or be the result of concomitant diseases.

Many medications, such as cytotoxic drugs, immunosuppressives, antithyroid and anticoagulants can also leave a trace of baldness. Ultimately, hair loss can be caused by a long-term inflammatory process.

Some scientists see the cause of focal hair loss in disturbances in the hair follicle cycle, namely a too rapid transition from the anagen phase to the catagen phase. Until now, this theory has not been confirmed and the factors responsible for the onset of the entire process of baldness have not been identified.

However, it remains true that hair loss is inflammatory in nature, despite the absence of visible changes in the inflammatory process on the skin, in the form of redness or increased temperature.

A large circle of “fans” also has autoimmune theory. The fact that focal baldness coexists with autoimmune diseases and high concentrations of autoantibodies (antibodies to one’s own tissues, in the case of hair loss, to the cells of the hair follicles) may indicate the veracity of the assumption put forward by scientists.

Although causes of patchy hair loss completely unknown, the disease itself is becoming more and more studied.

Chronic focal baldness

In chronic diseases, cytotoxic lymphocytes predominate in the blood, which trigger the mechanisms of “programmed cell death,” the so-called apoptosis. It is assumed that chronic hair loss process may be associated with various environmental factors.

An important influence is the presence of an internal source of infection of bacterial or viral origin, which can cause specific activation of lymphocytes (so-called superantigens) and microtrauma of the scalp.

Signs of focal baldness

Patchy baldness appears as several round lesions (1-5 cm in diameter) devoid of hair. The skin in these areas is creamy yellow. Bald spots can heal or grow.

In rare cases, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard and armpit hair may fall out. Then they talk about malignant baldness and the prognosis for hair regrowth in this case is negative.

Diagnosis of focal baldness

Diagnosis of focal baldness relatively simple. Usually there is no need to conduct any hair examinations; the doctor only needs to examine the bald areas.

If there is any doubt about the cause of hair loss, blood tests or a biopsy of skin samples from the bald area are performed.

Treatment of focal baldness

This disease is caused by a still unknown etiopathogenesis. As a rule, if the causes of a pathological disease are not known, its treatment does not bring the desired effect. The same thing happens in case of focal hair loss.

The following drugs are used in the treatment of this disease:

• local irritants (for example, tretinoin, dithranol);
• local immunotherapy;
• immunomodulatory drugs;
• immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, cyclosporine A, corticosteroids);
• hair growth stimulating agents (for example, minoxidil).

The most effective and most commonly used alternative The treatment method is diphenylcyclopropenone.

Corticosteroids for focal baldness

Corticosteroids are injected once a month into the area below the area where hair is missing. Side effects of treatment are minimal: pain and skin atrophy, however, these disorders are reversible.

Systemic corticosteroids for focal baldness

Corticosteroids may also be given in prescription tablet form (systemic corticosteroids). Treatment of focal baldness using tablets brings results after four weeks.

However, systemic corticosteroids have serious side effects. These include: migraines, mood swings, cataracts, hypertension, osteoporosis and

Alopecia areata is a disease that causes localized baldness in women and men in the form of characteristic patches or “nests.” As a result of this pathology, oval or round bald spots with a smooth surface form on the head (on the body). In order to get rid of alopecia areata, it is necessary to find out its causes and undergo a comprehensive course of treatment.

Every day a person loses a certain amount of hair, this happens regularly, is considered natural and does not lead to a cosmetic defect. The disease can only be suspected if hair begins to gather in balls on the comb or is found in large quantities in the bathroom after bathing.

Alopecia areata occurs in approximately 0.1% of the population and can occur at any age, but most cases of baldness occur in people aged 15 to 30 years.

Although the exact causes of pathological hair loss are not fully understood, there are several contributing factors to baldness:

1. Heredity;
2. Stress;
3. Infections;
4. Weak immunity;
5. Hormonal disbalance;
6. Taking certain medications;
7. Physical injuries.

In 95% of all cases, the causes of the development of alopecia areata in men are due to the action of the hormone testosterone, which negatively affects the condition of the hair and contributes to its thinning. In women, hair loss is most often observed against the background of extensive functional disruption in the body (for example, during chemotherapy or after surgery).

The causes of alopecia areata in men and women may be due to the action of an autoimmune factor. As a result, the body begins to react to the hair follicle as a foreign body and reject it.

If someone in the family has already suffered from alopecia, then there is a high risk of it developing in close relatives of the patient. In addition, there is a definite connection between the presence of psychological stress or depression in the patient and subsequent hair loss.

Other causes of alopecia may include a previous infectious disease. Other factors include fungal skin infections. Alopecia areata can develop against the background of physical trauma, which is a kind of trigger: head injury, cut, puncture wound.

In women, the disease occurs in a milder form compared to men.

1. Alopecia areata in men is characterized by a rapid course: in a short period of time a person can be left completely without hair.
2. In 80% of cases, all patients have a single bald spot on the head, and much less often there may be several of them.
3. Round patches of baldness can occur on any part of the body: eyebrows, eyelashes. The surface of the skin in the affected area is usually smooth, but sometimes roughness or inflammation occurs.
4. The main sign of focal baldness is a sharp thinning and loss of hair, after which it becomes dull and brittle.
5. In 10% of cases in men and women, the disease occurs with deformation of the nail plate on the hands, which becomes cloudy and becomes very thin.

In order to begin treating the disease as early as possible, it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. A dermatologist or trichologist should carefully examine the patient for a fungal skin infection called ringworm. The fungus causes similar clinical symptoms and also leads to baldness. With alopecia areata, the hair along the edge of the bald spot is very thin and easily pulled out. Additionally, blood is drawn and tested for syphilis or lupus.

Alopecia areata in men and women varies in severity and is therefore divided into three types:

1. Hair loss in small areas;
2. Expansion of the area of ​​baldness and merging of bald spots;
3. Hair loss all over the body.

In the progressive stage, redness and swelling of the skin begins, and minor itching or burning may also occur. There are broken hairs and areas of baldness ranging in size from 3 mm to 1 cm. If you pull the hair, it is easily removed, and the bulbous end has the appearance of a “broken rope”. In the subacute stage, inflammation disappears and the skin becomes pale. At this time, there is no area of ​​loose hair. During the regression stage, vellus hair begins to grow, which gradually acquires pigmentation and thickens.

There are six clinical forms of alopecia areata in men and women:

1. Local;
2. Ribbon-shaped;
3. Subtotal;
4. Total;
5. Universal;
6. Alopecia areata.

The first form is characterized by the appearance of isolated foci of hair loss, and with the band-shaped form, baldness begins from the back of the head to the temples like a band. Subtotal alopecia occurs with small lesions, which then merge into one large area.

With total baldness, hair on the head is completely absent, and eyelashes and eyebrows also fall out. A universal form of alopecia is accompanied by a lack of hair throughout the body and can last for several years. The nested form is considered the most severe and occurs with damage to the nails.

The disease causes a severe cosmetic defect in women with long hair, since the hair in a bald spot grows for a very long time. The “nest” is less noticeable on a short haircut, because here the length evens out faster.

Alopecia areata can occur even in children, and this disease begins with damage to a small area of ​​hair. Hair on the scalp begins to thin or is completely lost in a specific area. At the same time, eyebrows and eyelashes may fall out. Hair becomes thinner and follicles are damaged. A disappointing prognosis is observed in the total form of alopecia, which occurs in a child at an early age. If you have another form of baldness, spontaneous hair growth may occur without treatment.

The diagnosis must be made as early as possible in order to stop the progression of the disease. For this purpose, consultations with an endocrinologist, pediatrician, gastroenterologist and neurologist are prescribed. A dermatologist prescribes a trichogram and additional examination methods.

The effectiveness of treatment largely depends on the form and stage of alopecia, so an individual treatment regimen is drawn up for each patient and different drugs are selected. Treatment of baldness is necessary taking into account the form of the disease and the degree of neglect of the disease. If the prognosis is unfavorable, the hair will be lost forever, but if the prognosis is favorable, stable remission can be achieved.

The following drugs will help cure alopecia areata with drug therapy:

• Means for stimulating metabolic processes in tissues;
• Sedatives;
• Hair growth stimulants;
• Immunomodulators;
• Products for topical use;
• Vitamin complexes.

Treatment of alopecia areata in men and women can be carried out with intradermal injections of glucocorticosteroids into the “nests” or applications. In addition, cyclosporine is prescribed for internal use. The course of treatment with these drugs is one month. Children cannot be treated for alopecia with such injections due to severe pain. For them, restoratives, physiotherapeutic procedures, local emulsions and ultraviolet irradiation are prescribed.

Immunomodulators help improve local tissue immunity and activate cell renewal. Anthralin cream has a good effect, which prevents the development of relapses. The overall effect is provided by vitamin complexes and biostimulants with eleutherococcus, echinacea and honey.

For external treatment of alopecia, tinctures, ointments or lotions are usually used. Products with heparin, bodyaga and red pepper tincture improve microcirculation and promote the regeneration of keranotinocytes.

Among folk remedies, the following are very popular:

• Garlic juice;
• Burdock root decoction;
• Onion juice;
• Horseradish root.

They are used for external treatment of the skin and have a local irritating effect.

Alopecia areata in men and women can be treated using complex therapy. Physiotherapy is often used as an additional treatment method that helps stimulate the growth of hair follicles and activate cellular turnover.

The following methods have a high effect in the fight against pathological baldness:

1. Darsonval;
2. Microcurrent therapy;
3. PUVA therapy;
4. Electrophoresis;
5. Cryomassage;
6. Laser therapy;
7. Iontophoresis;
8. Mesotherapy.

The mesotherapy procedure and PUVA therapy have proven themselves well. During mesotherapy with a mesoscooter, the problem area of ​​the skin is treated with a medicine and treated with a special device. The mesoscooter has thin needles that pierce the skin and form microchannels in it in order to deliver beneficial substances inside to the cells through them and stimulate blood circulation.

PUVA therapy is a photochemical treatment that involves irradiating the scalp with mild ultraviolet rays. It helps suppress local immunity and can be combined with oral psoralens.

In order for the treatment of focal baldness to be sufficiently effective, a nutritious diet is recommended. The nutrients contained in many products will help strengthen the hair structure and make it more resistant to the negative effects of harmful environments.

1. The diet for hair loss should consist of a sufficient amount of fats, proteins and microelements.
2. It is recommended to consume foods with vegetable fats and vitamins, fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits every day.
3. Women who have suffered early alopecia areata are not recommended to follow diets and thereby limit the intake of nutrients into the body.
4. In addition, it is important to maintain complete psychological peace and avoid stress or mental fatigue.
5. It is necessary to spend more time in the fresh air, follow a sleep and rest schedule, and actively engage in sports.

Forecast

The disease progresses differently in each patient, so the further prognosis in each case will depend on the individual characteristics of the body, the stage and form of baldness. According to statistics, in 80% of people who have suffered alopecia areata, hair grows back within one year. Moreover, in 90% of cases, repeated relapses occur.

An unfavorable prognosis is observed with severe hair loss on the head and throughout the body. The more hair falls out at the very beginning of the disease, the less chance there will be for further recovery. In such cases, hair transplantation or wearing a special wig can help.

In order to prevent the development of alopecia, it is recommended to monitor your diet, control your hormonal levels and properly care for your hair. Nourishing masks, balms and rinses will help provide protection from external factors.

You should not treat such a disease yourself, as this will aggravate the situation and complicate the treatment process. Trust an experienced doctor and strictly follow all his instructions.