Are you losing Hair? It can be because of Alopecia Areata!
25-08-2021 | Posted By: Chhavi | 1907 View(s)
Hair fall is a problem that everyone dreads. No one wants to wake up with hair all over their pillow. Despite using expensive shampoos and anti-hair fall products, many people complain that they don’t see their hair fall going away. The question is why doesn’t hair fall stop even if we try so many home remedies and good hair products? Well, hair fall can also be a cause of a health problem or nutritional deficiency. In many people, hair fall is a result of an autoimmune disorder, known as alopecia areata. Here we have explained in detail the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of alopecia.
An Overview of Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is a common health condition that causes hair to fall out in small patches, which can remain unnoticeable. However, over time these patches may connect and become noticeable. This disorder develops when the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles and then leads to hair loss.
In this condition, hair loss occurs on the scalp, and in some cases the eyelashes, eyebrows and face, as well as other parts of the body. The health condition can also result in total hair loss, called alopecia Universalis, and can also prevent hair from growing back. When hair grows back, it may be possible that hair starts to fall out again. The extent of hair loss and hair regrowth varies from person to person.
Causes of Alopecia Areata
It is a type of autoimmune disease. These types of diseases develop when the body’s immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign substances. Our immune system defends our body typically against foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. However, if you have alopecia, your immune system mistakenly starts attacking your hair follicles. Hair follicles are the structures from which our hair grows. The hair follicles then become smaller and eventually stop producing hair, resulting in hair loss.
But, it is known that it commonly occurs in people who have type 1 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. Genetics also play a vital role in developing this disease.
Medical experts also believe that certain environmental factors may also trigger alopecia in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease.
Symptoms of Alopecia Areata
Hair loss is a leading symptom of this health disorder. In the beginning, hair falls out in small patches on the scalp. Hair loss in small patches might also occur on other parts of the face, like beard, eyebrows, eyelashes, and other parts of your body.
You may notice clumps of hair on your pillow or in the shower. However, many other health conditions can also cause hair to fall out in a similar pattern.
Some people may also experience more extensive hair loss. Generally, this is an indication of another type of alopecia, such as:
• Alopecia totalis – It refers to the loss of all hair on the scalp
• Alopecia Universalis – Loss of hair on the entire body
If you find your hair falling out in clumps, visit a dermatologist now.
Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata
If you experience symptoms of alopecia areata, you should consult a doctor. The doctor may diagnose the condition by merely looking at the extent of your hair loss. He may also examine a few of your hair samples under a microscope.
A scalp biopsy may also be performed by your doctor to rule out other health problems that cause hair loss, such as fungal infections like tinea capitis.
Your doctor may also ask you to undergo a few blood tests to screen for other autoimmune conditions. A doctor will test for the presence of abnormal antibodies. If antibodies are present in your blood, it may mean you have an autoimmune disorder.
Some other blood tests that can help to rule out other conditions are:
•C-reactive protein
•Antinuclear antibody test
•Free and total testosterone
•iron levels
•thyroid hormones
•follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormone
Treatment of Alopecia Areata
As of now, there is no cure for this condition. However, there are a few treatments that you can try to slow down future hair loss and grow your hair back quickly.
Medications are also given to patients that are needed to be rubbed in the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Steroid injections are also a standard treatment for mild alopecia as they help hair to grow back on bald spots. This treatment has to be repeated at least once one to two months to regrow hair.
Oral medications are also given to reduce the symptoms of alopecia.
Home Remedies for Alopecia
1. Onion
Onion is rich in sulfur, which helps to stimulate the growth of new hair.
Things You Will Need
•Onion
•Strainer
What You Need To Do
Take an onion and grind it to extract the juice. Apply the juice on your scalp and keep it on your scalp for about 15 minutes. Wash it off properly and shampoo your hair.
2. Honey
Honey helps to get rid of impurities that clog on your hair follicles. It also helps to stimulate hair growth and strengthen your hair roots.
Things You Will Need
•½ cup honey
•Two tablespoons buttermilk
•Two tablespoons olive oil
•Microwave
What You Need To Do
Take honey and olive oil and mix them together. Heat the mixture in the microwave for a few seconds. Then, you need to mix buttermilk in this mixture. Apply the mixture on your scalp and keep it on for about half an hour. Wash it off and shampoo your hair. Repeat this once every two weeks.
3. Garlic
Garlic is loaded with healthy minerals like zinc, calcium and sulfur that are required for hair growth. It also helps in stimulating blood circulation in your scalp. Plus, it boosts collagen production and strengthens hair follicles- all of which helps to cure alopecia.
Things You Will Need
•7 -8 cloves of garlic
•One tablespoon of honey
What You Need To Do
Take seven to eight cloves of garlic and extract the juice from them. Mix garlic and honey and apply this mixture on your scalp. Wash it off after 20 minutes with a mild shampoo. Do this two times a week.
4. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera helps to cure alopecia by increasing the blood circulation in your scalp.
Things You Will Need
•Aloe vera gel
What You Need To Do
Apply fresh aloe vera gel all over your scalp and massage your scalp. Keep it on for about 20 minutes. Rinse off aloe vera gel with cold water. Shampoo your hair properly. Do this three times a week.
5. Cinnamon Powder
The cinnamon powder acts as an excellent stimulant that helps in treating alopecia areata. It also strengthens and nourishes the hair follicles, which in turn prevents hair fall and promote hair growth.
Things You Will Need
•Three tablespoons of cinnamon powder
•Water
What You Need To Do
Mix the cinnamon powder in water to make a thick paste. Apply this thick cinnamon paste on your scalp and concentrate more on the bald spots. Wash it off properly with cold water and shampoo after half an hour. You can do this two times a week.
6. Mustard Oil
Mustard oil is loaded with protein, and omega-3 fatty acids that help to nourish hair prevents hair loss and also encourage new hair growth.
Things You Will Need
•Mustard Oil
What You Need To Do
Take a few drops of compressed mustard oil and massage on your scalp. Leave it on overnight and wash it off the next morning with shampoo.
7. Lemon
Lemon is a healthy fruit that is filled with vitamins such as vitamin B, vitamin C and other healthy, essential minerals that are necessary for hair growth. Moreover, lemon juice helps in restoring the scalp’s natural pH level and cleaning away the dead cells that clog the hair follicles.
Things You Will Need
•One lemon
•Three tablespoons of aloe vera gel
What You Need To Do
Take ½ a lemon, and then you need to squeeze the juice out of it. Mix aloe vera and lemon juice and apply it on your scalp. Rinse the mixture off after half an hour with cold water. Follow this remedy three times a week.
8. Fenugreek
Fenugreek contains a lot of nutrients like nicotinic acid, protein and lecithin that help to strengthen your hair follicles and also promote hair growth.
Things You Will Need
•Two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds
•One tablespoon of coconut oil
What You Need To Do
Take two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds and grind them in a food processor. Add coconut oil to fenugreek powder to form a smooth paste. Apply the paste to bald spots and let it dry for about 20 minutes. Rinse it off a mild shampoo. Do this every day to cure alopecia.
9. Egg
An egg is a perfect remedy for hair fall. Eggs are rich in folate, vitamin A, vitamin D and biotin that helps in hair regrowth.
Things You Will Need
•One egg
•Two teaspoons of coconut oil
What You Need To Do
Take an egg and whisk it properly. Mix two teaspoons of coconut oil in it. Apply the mixture on your scalp and keep it on for 15 minutes. Wash it off with cold water and then condition your hair.
10. Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is loaded with niacin and folate that helps to improve hair growth. It contains vitamin E too that helps to fight damage and improve the health of your hair.
Things You Will Need
•½ cup of coconut milk
What You Need To Do
Take ½ cup of coconut milk and heat it in the microwave for a few seconds. Massage it on your scalp for about 15 minutes. Rinse it off after 40 minutes. Do this once a week.
Try these home remedies for alopecia. Also, take care of your diet to keep your hair healthy. If you experience hair fall, consult a dermatologist.Get a health checkup done on a regular basis to check for nutritional deficiencies and other health problems because hair fall is a cause of many health problems.
