Alopecia Areata Causes and Treatment

According to studies, alopecia areata is the result of autoimmunity, caused by immune system abnormality. Autoimmunity is the case where immune system cells attack healthy tissues, which means that in alopecia areata, the immune cells attack the hair follicles.

Since the hair follicles are attacked, the growth formation of hair is disrupted. The hair follicles then slow down in hair production. While the normal growth formation is slowed, there is always a high possibility that hair will regrow since the stem cells that make new cells available for the follicles are not targeted.

The core cause of alopecia areata remains a mystery. The studies aren't finished with identifying what causes this disease; however it has been linked with some other autoimmune conditions like thyroid diseases, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, vitiligo, and allergic disorders. There are a few types of alopecia areata, and some of these arouse the issue that they may be hereditary. There are also newborn babies born with this condition.

Stress, anxiety and depression are still under study, but these factors were considered because they have been linked to getting bald. The following are some alopecia areata treatments produced by the researches being conducted.

1. Steroid injections are best for speeding up the regrowing of hair.
2. Topical steroids are in gel formula or cream solutions are best recommended for the patients who want to avoid the risks of taking steroids orally.
3. Oral prescriptions of steroids are not usually recommended since they cannot be taken for too long. This treatment should be with doctor's approval. It is also advisable that the patients, who are taking oral steroids, report any discomfort they feel upon application of this treatment.
4. Therapies are for reducing the immune system cells that attack the cells in the hair follicles.
5. Sunlight exposure can also help lessen the immune cells in the skin. Heat treatment can also be an alternative. Both reduced the cell attackers, thus reducing the possibility of slowing down the hair regrowth process.
6. Essential oils, which are found in plants (specifically in flowers and leaves), are used in massage therapy and aromatherapy. This treatment for alopecia areata serves as a great cure since it helps better the condition. Since essential oils are highly concentrated, very minimal amount for every application is suggested. Otherwise, burns or other allergic reactions may occur.
7. Onion juice also showed its effectiveness in curing alopecia areata. Doctors suggest application of onion juice twice a day. In two weeks, improvements will be observed, while people with slower reactions to onion juice will have to wait for six to eight weeks.
8. While psychological factors aren't still proven as causes of alopecia areata, hypnosis, stress reduction, hair massage, and acupuncture are used as alternative remedies for this condition./
9. Aloe vera and herbs are also suggested natural cures for their ability to reduce inflammation. By lessening the inflammation in hair follicles, regrowth may be stimulated

There is still no permanent treatment for this disease. Researchers are still continuing their studies to find the core cause of this disease to know the possible treatments that can cure this disease permanently.