Alopecia is an unpleasant disease that can occur not only in men, but also in women. She can appear at any age, has various stages of development and treatment methods.
What is a disease?
This pathology is now very widespread. Moreover, both men and women suffer from this problem. Alopecia is a disease that can begin from any part of the body and is characterized by sharp hair loss. The degree of development of pathology can be different.
The disease can begin in childhood, after the baby suffered atopic dermatitis. In addition, there are many other reasons that can cause complete or partial baldness.
Why does pathology develop?
Alopecia is a difficult disease that can appear for the following reasons:
1. Hormonal malfunctions in the body (thyroid pathology, menopause, pregnancy, fungal infections).
2. Skin injuries (mechanical, radiation, chemical, burn).
3. Genetic predisposition.
4. Too much testosterone is produced.
5. Nervous breakdowns, tension, depression, stress.
6. Bad habits and malnutrition.
7. Autoimmune reaction of the body. And in this case, the reason for this situation is unclear. Hair growth resumes only when the irritant that caused the problem ceases to act.
Signs of pathology
If you suspect that you have alopecia, the symptoms may appear gradually and not be expressive. Although sometimes the signs can be seen very clearly. Among the symptoms can be identified such:
- too slow hair growth;
- the appearance of small patches of baldness on the head;
- complete hair loss on the head, face and other parts of the body.
In principle, there are no other signs of this disease.
Pathology classification
Alopecia is a strange disease that causes a lot of inconvenience and discomfort, both physically and psychologically. Naturally, aesthetically, such a problem looks ugly. However, first, consider what types of pathology present.
So, depending on the severity, we can distinguish the following types of alopecia:
- focal (that is, hair does not fall out everywhere, but only in small areas);
- universal (affects the whole body);
- total alopecia (hair falls completely on the entire head).
As for the severity of the disease, a person can lose more than half or less than 50% of hair. In addition, one can distinguish such types of pathology as cicatricial (occurs under the influence of any external skin lesions) and non-cicatricial. The latter, in turn, can be divided into androgenic (under the influence of hormones), diffuse and already known focal.
Diagnosis of the disease
Before treating alopecia, an accurate diagnosis must be made. Only a specialist can do this. Although the symptoms are very clear, they can signal more serious illnesses.
Naturally, the doctor can take blood tests and all necessary smears from you to exclude oncological or other lesions of the skin (or internal organs). The specialist must collect a patient's history and establish the exact cause of the development of the pathology. Only then can appropriate treatment be prescribed. Otherwise, the therapy will be ineffective.
Stages of the development of the disease
Total alopecia or other types of this pathology pass a certain development path. Three stages of manifestation can be distinguished:
1. Progressive. It involves too rapid hair loss, and those foci that are formed can merge into one.
2. Stationary . At this stage, the lesion sites retain their shape. That is, the foci no longer increase in size.
3. Regressive. This stage involves the resumption of hair. This can be achieved faster if time is taken for treatment. That is, a fluff appears on the head, which is gradually replaced by normal hair.
Features of traditional ways to deal with the problem
Now you need to consider how to treat alopecia using conservative methods of medicine. It should be noted that it can last from several months to several years. That is, the therapy will be long, and the patient will have to try to achieve the desired effect.
Hair loss (alopecia) is mostly eliminated by corticosteroids. For example, various drugs are injected into the baldness areas with a syringe. In addition, various ointments and gels are used: "Dexamethasone", "Fluocinalon". Naturally, the patient needs to take multivitamin complexes, which will provide the body with the necessary “building material”.
Zinc-based preparations are very useful. However, they must be taken with extreme caution. The fact is that large doses of zinc are effective, and they can cause various side effects. If you have alopecia (baldness) affects a large area of the skin, then it is already necessary to use special irritating drugs that will stimulate hair growth. Sometimes you need to take medications that can suppress the autoimmune reaction.
Treatment of alopecia in men, as well as in women, can be reduced to the use of hormonal drugs.
Alternative medicine in the fight against the disease
In order to restore lush hair, try the recipes below:
1. In the autumn, dig up burdock roots and wash them thoroughly. Next, you need to cut the raw materials into small pieces and carefully dry it. Now one large spoon of grass must be steamed with boiling water (350-500 ml). In this case, you have to boil the mixture over low heat for another 5-10 minutes. The broth must be infused. Rub the mixture into the scalp daily. However, it must be stored in a cold place. For greater effect, warm the fluid to body temperature before use. You can also make lotions from a decoction of burdock. However, the head should be kept warm.
2. Tincture of hot pepper is also a very effective tool. Today it can be bought at a pharmacy, but it is better to cook it yourself. To do this, take 5 peppercorns and pour them with alcohol (vodka). Only half a liter of liquid is enough. To infuse the mixture, leave it in a cool dark place for 3 weeks. Next, the finished product is used for rubbing into the scalp. Moreover, the procedure is carried out daily.
3. Alcohol tincture of calamus roots will also help restore hair growth and prevent hair loss. To prepare the product, you need to take 250 ml of alcohol and half a pack of dry raw materials. You can buy it at any pharmacy. Infuse the mixture for about 2 weeks. After a day, rub the product into the scalp for several weeks. Next, take a break. After washing your hair, you can rinse your head with a decoction of marsh calamus. To prepare the mixture, pour two tablespoons of the raw materials with a glass of boiling water.
4. Aloe juice is very useful for alopecia. An old plant is best for this. Lubricate the bald spot juice daily.
5. Tincture of nettles. To prepare it, you will need the stems of the plant. Next, fill the raw materials with alcohol or vodka. To insist you need 22 days. Rub the product into the skin every day.
Features of the use of cosmetic procedures for the treatment of pathology
If a man is diagnosed with alopecia of his beard, head or other visible parts of the body, then this is unpleasant in the first place to himself. Naturally, this problem should be fought. You can correct the situation with the use of drugs, although this will be just a mask of the defect.
If this method suits you, then we will consider measures that can be carried out independently. You can use the following masking methods:
1. Wearing a wig.
2. The use of haircuts or styling that can hide the defect.
3. Improving the circulation of the scalp with massage.
4. The correct behavior with hair: the use of non-aggressive, and in some cases therapeutic shampoos. In addition, you will have to abandon the use of a hairdryer, hard combs, and tricks.
If you have alopecia, alternative treatment can have a significant positive effect.
Using new technologies
In addition to the presented remedies, there are new, non-standard methods of eliminating the problem. For example, a method of mesotherapy is considered very interesting to combat a disease such as alopecia. Reviews about him are positive. However, mesotherapy is used only for androgenic, telogen and diffuse alopecia. And it helps both men and women. In addition to the direct effect on the scalp, mesotherapy helps to increase the body's defenses.
This procedure can be carried out several times, and it is not completely painless. Naturally, after it you should not immediately wash your hair, since a small part of the drug still remains in the skin, which continues its effect.
A radical method is to transplant hair into affected areas. This technique is used if the disease is caused by some kind of trauma, and the traditional (or folk) method cannot help.
Special preparations can simply be rubbed into the skin. It should be noted that such drugs are quite expensive, but they contribute to the awakening of sleeping bulbs, nourish them.
Disease prevention
Alopecia areata is a very unpleasant disease for both the person himself and others. Therefore, it is necessary to cope with it. However, one should know that such a disease can be prevented. Naturally, if it is due to a genetic predisposition, then dealing with it is more difficult, but possible.
There are some preventive measures that will help maintain a thick head of hair for a long time. For example, try to use a hairdryer and curling irons as little as possible, which significantly harm the health of your hair. Hard brushes can also adversely affect the scalp. In cold weather it is advisable to wear a hat.
Instead of expensive shampoos, herbal decoctions and other folk remedies can be used. Rinse your hair with such fluids and they will become healthier, more obedient, stronger and more beautiful. Try to eat properly so that your diet is filled with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. For example, eat vegetables and fruits, eat those foods that are rich in calcium, potassium and other beneficial substances. Refuse bad habits that adversely affect not only the hair, but also the general health of the body.
Frequent staining is not beneficial. Naturally, if you need it, then try to use natural paints without chemical additives. Of course, they are quite expensive, but safe. Any manipulations with the hair should be gentle. Do not constantly do perm. Hair should rest and receive nutrition. That's all. Be healthy and beautiful!