Alopecia is a blanket term meaning hair loss. When people speak of alopecia, they are generally referring to loss of hair on the scalp. Alopecia is experienced by men, women and children. Depending on the cause, there are several regrowth options currently available.
What Is Alopecia?
There are different forms of alopecia. The three main forms are alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.
Alopecia areata is known for its patchy appearance. People with alopecia areata generally have patchy hair loss due to things such as autoimmune deficiencies, ringworm and chemical burns. Alopecia totalis is the complete loss of hair on the scalp and can be triggered by many different things. Alopecia universalis is the total loss of hair all over the body. This is a rare form of alopecia and is still not fully understood by the medical community.
Other forms of alopecia are cicatricial alopecia--scarring alopecia, which comes from burns or injuries to the scalp that form scar tissue in the follicles; androgenic alopecia or pattern baldness, which occurs due to hormonal changes as a person ages; traction alopecia, which is caused by the scalp hairs being pulled too tightly; and telogen effluvium, which occurs when there is a shock to the system that causes more hair than normal to shed.
Topical Solutions
Treatment for hair regrowth in people with less severe stages of alopecia areata is minoxildil. Minoxidil topical solution, sold as Rogaine, is available over-the-counter as a treatment for alopecia areata. The suggested treatment for women is minoxildil 2 percent and minoxildil 5 percent for men. According to MayoClinic.com, this solution must be used as directed to reduce unwanted effects. It may take several months to see hair regrowth.
Medicine
People who have alopecia areata due to scalp infections should see a physician to begin antifungal or antibiotic treatments. Once the infection clears, the hair should resume growing. If the infection was severe, hair loss may be permanent or take several months to regrow. One medication that is used in hair regrowth is Propecia 1 mg. Propecia should be taken as directed by a physician. It may take up to three months of use before hair growth is noticed. This medication is prescribed to treat androgenic alopecia -- pattern hair loss -- in men only.
Surgical Treatments
One surgical treatment for hair regrowth is a hair graft. If balding is extensive or other medications are not working, people may elect to have this surgery. This procedure entails a surgeon removing hair and skin from the back of the scalp and transplanting it in the balding areas. In micrograft or minigraft treatments, one or two hairs are transplanted into each graft, which gives more of a natural look. Another procedure is called scalp reduction; the bald areas are removed and the remaining scalp is moved closer together. The Mayo Clinic states that this procedure may require tissue expansion, since the scalp skin is tight and sometimes will not stretch.
Additional Care
Many forms of alopecia come from stress or taking care of the hair incorrectly. People who suffer from traction alopecia in its early stages can reverse the effects by wearing looser hair styles, moisturizing the hair regularly, and using shampoos and conditioners that are formulated for damaged hair. Also, people with this form of alopecia can benefit from discontinuing the use of chemical straighteners or hair dyes that cause the hair to become dry and weak. If hair loss is due to stress, practicing stress-relieving exercises such as deep breathing or meditation can help. Once the stress begins to lessen, hair growth will resume but may take several months to do so. Drink plenty of water and eat healthy to promote scalp health and good blood circulation, which will also help moisturize and strengthen the hair.
