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Alopecia Treatment

Are you someone who has been dealing with loss of hair, or in other words, alopecia? If so, it’s time for you to get the help you need. Alopecia is the sudden loss of hair which can start in one place on your body and end in more patches that may end up overlapping. Unfortunately, alopecia cannot be cured, but treatment can help reduce the significance of hair loss you’re experiencing. If you think you’re experiencing alopecia because you’ve been dealing with sudden hair loss, it’s time to learn more from the dermatologists at Azeal Dermatology Institute in Boulder. We can help you diagnose your alopecia and find the right treatment option for you.

What Causes Alopecia?

Alopecia is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own hair follicles. People of all ages can get alopecia and it often begins in childhood. Many people with alopecia have family members with the disease as well. A person’s genetic makeup, along with other factors trigger this type of hair loss.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Alopecia?

There are a few signs you may not be able to ignore, such as the most obvious, hair loss, as well as more unusual symptoms, such as small dents in your finger and toenails, anxiety, and itchiness. However, the main symptom is patchy hair loss.

People with alopecia are also at a higher risk for:

Other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease or vitiligo
Allergies, such as atopic dermatitis and hay fever, and asthma

What Can You Do to Treat Alopecia?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for alopecia. However, there are some ways to slow and reduce the amount of hair loss you experience in the future, as well as treatments that can help you grow your hair back.

Some of the treatment options that our dermatologists can use include:

  • Corticosteroids: These medications can suppress the immune system and can be injected in places where hair loss is occurring or applied as a topical treatment.
  • Minoxidil: this is a hair re-growth medicine that is great for both children and adults with alopecia. This medicine is most often used with another treatment.
  • Anthralin: This medicine is used to alter the skin’s immune function and is applied to the skin for a short period of time, which is called short-contact therapy.
  • Diphencyprone: This medicine is applied to the bald spot of skin and causes a small allergic reaction. When the reaction occurs, a patient will experience redness, itching, and swelling. Dermatologists believe that the immune system is tricked by the allergic reaction, causing it to send white blood cells to the surface of the scalp. This prevents hair follicles from going to sleep, reducing hair loss.

When you make an appointment with one of our experienced dermatologists in Boulder, we will assess your situation and determine the best treatment option for you. We will also suggest you amp up your self-care with stress management and PUVA therapy. If you are suffering from alopecia and want to find a treatment that works, be sure to contact Azeal Dermatology Institute and schedule an appointment to get started.

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