Can alopecia be cured? – Blessbpeprah.com

There is no cure for alopecia areata, but there are treatments that help hair grow back more quickly. There are also resources to help people cope with hair loss.

Alopecia areata impacts an estimated 2 percentTrusted Source of the population.

The condition can understandably be distressing. But there are many treatments that can help manage the symptoms of hair loss.

While this hair loss might not be noticeable at first, if you experience multiple instances of hair loss, the areas of alopecia areata may join together and become more visible.

Keep reading to learn about the most popular ways to treat alopecia areata.

When alopecia areata occurs, inflammatory cells infiltrate the hair follicle, which can result in hair loss. This hair loss often occurs on the scalp, but it can also affect eyebrows, eyelashes, facial hair, and body hair.

“Alopecia areata can happen to anyone, at any age, and it doesn’t discriminate based on race or gender. Often, it presents as circular patches of complete hair loss. In more severe cases it can affect the entire scalp,” says Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, a board certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas.

“It’s typically asymptomatic, meaning it’s not painful or itchy for most individuals. We aren’t sure why it happens. Some people think it may be triggered by a viral infection,” she says.

People with alopecia areata can lose a significant amount of hair on their head, face, and body, according to Dr. Lynne Napatalung, the medical director of dermatology at Pfizer. It often starts in adolescence or early adulthood.

The condition can result in total hair loss, known as alopecia universalis, and the hair might not grow back.

The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) reports that the condition affects as many as 6.8 million people in the United States and 147 million people worldwide.

What to know about treating alopecia areata

People living with alopecia areata have options when it comes to managing their condition — although there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. You might need to try a few treatments before finding one that works for you.

As alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, several treatments involve the use of immunosuppressant drugs.

Other forms of treatment involve stimulating hair growth. This works best for those with less severe hair loss.

“Most of the treatments involve keeping the immune system from attacking the hair follicles,” Geddes-Bruce says. “Treatments range from prescription topicals to prescriptions pills, in-office injections, and in-office topical therapies.” There are also a few over-the-counter options.

It’s important to remember that not all treatments work for every person. Sometimes, hair loss might occur again, even when treatment was previously successful.

The most important thing to do is consult a doctor to help decide which option is best for you.

“Since alopecia areata is unpredictable and impacts patients in different ways, every patient’s experience with specific treatments or products will vary,” Napatalung says. “That’s why it’s important that doctors and patients have an open and honest dialogue and work together on solutions to address individual needs.”

How we chose the best treatments for alopecia areata

To make our selection of the best alopecia areata treatments, we consulted medical professionals and dermatologists for their recommendations.

We also consulted medical studies and resources to corroborate information about each treatment.

As alopecia areata can be a serious autoimmune condition, which affects people in a myriad of ways, we wanted to explore a range of treatment options.

It’s also worth noting that people often experience conditions differently and require support that is tailored to their needs, depending on the severity of their hair loss or their access to certain treatments.