Alopecia areata in women: treatment - effective methods of treatment

Alopecia areata( baldness) can appear in women of any age, but the first signs are often observed in 15-35 years. Many manage to get rid of the disease for a year or several years, but sometimes the disease takes on a chronic form, exacerbated regularly. Focal alopecia does not harm the overall health of the body, but is a cosmetic defect. The disease becomes especially dangerous when passing into a severe form. Alopecia automatically causes disturbances in the mental state, provokes the onset of depression, because of what the course of the disease worsens.

Reasons for

Alopecia areata inmost cases develops under the influence of an autoimmune mechanism. The defenses of the body can incorrectly recognize the hair follicles, confusing them with a foreign tissue. In patients with severe focal alopecia in the structure of follicles, immunoglobulins are often detected, the pathology of immunoglobulins in plasma and the lack of immunity are diagnosed. This disease affects women with darker hair color.

Factors affecting the onset of the disease:

1. Hereditary predisposition. In many cases, symptoms of focal alopecia can be seen in close relatives.
2. Prolonged viral activity in the body.
3. Presence of chronic infectious processes.
4. Hair loss can be affected by sinusitis, tonsillitis. In some cases, tooth decay and other tooth problems are affected.
5. Prolonged influence of stress factors.
6. Pathology of the endocrine system.

If focal alopecia arises under the influence of hormonal imbalance, violations in the activity of the endocrine system organs are additionally diagnosed.

Pathologies in the functioning of the vegetative system, which causes obvious pathologies of microcirculation. There is a spasm in the capillaries and arteries, the number of capillaries decreases, the viscosity of the blood is diagnosed. If the circulation processes slow down, the disease can quickly acquire a chronic form, worsen the appearance of a person.

Forms

Alopecia areata occurs in one of these forms:

1. Local .Foci of strong hair loss with oval contours are identified.
2. Tape-shaped .It is one of the most unfavorable forms of the disease course. The pathological focus, where hair does not grow, flows from the back of the head to the temples, resembling the shape of the tape.
3. Subtotal .Initially, it manifests itself as small foci of defeat, which women often successfully mask. In the future, the course of the disease worsens, as the foci of its spread increase, merge.
4. Total .There is approximately uniform hair loss throughout the entire area of ​​the head, loss of eyelashes and eyebrows is possible.
5. Universal .The focus of hair loss is observed throughout the body. This disease can develop for decades, hitting new areas. Perhaps the growth of hair in places where they had previously fallen out, with the appearance of new pathological foci. Sometimes there come short remissions, which in most cases result in relapses. The most striking negative symptoms a person experiences in the first months of the disease, in the future the periods of exacerbation are transferred easier.
6. Nodular alopecia .It is characterized by an accelerated pathological process, in which nail plates are involved. It is a complicated form of the disease, which is difficult to treat.

Note! Usually, the disease only extends to the scalp. Significant hair loss is not always noticed, the obvious changes are noticeable less than in 10% of patients. If the disease occurs in a malignant form, the symptoms of the disease can gradually change.

Signs and stages of

The following stages are distinguished depending on the symptoms of the disease:

1. Progressive .There is swelling of the skin in places where there is almost complete absence of hair. Usually there is a slight hyperemia, you can notice inflammation. Patients complain of severe itching, possibly a tingling sensation and burning sensation. Too near the place of complete baldness, too short hair is observed. There is an accelerated hair loss in the areas, next to the centers of alopecia. Usually patients notice this symptom when combing, but sometimes it appears when you touch your hair. Hair bulbs have a dystrophic form, which indicates a pathological condition.
2. Subacute .It is characterized by a more rare occurrence of foci of inflammation, which quickly pass, are replaced by others. There may be a complete absence of inflammatory reactions. The skin in the places of alopecia becomes more pale, there are no zones in which the hair is of short length.
3. Regression .In areas of complete alopecia, hair growth with a refined structure is observed. Usually they have a light color, then pigmentation is followed. As they grow, their appearance improves.

If alopecia areata in a mild form, nail dystrophy is almost not manifested. Weak signs are observed in no more than 20% of cases. Nest and universal forms are characterized by a dystrophic nail lesion in almost all patients. Nails become more fragile, their ribbed structure is observed. A wavy pattern appears at the edges.

Note! Doctors talk about the chronic course of the disease, if the characteristic symptoms manifest themselves over a period of six months or longer.

Treatment of

To get rid of focal alopecia, complex measures are applied that consist not only of medical, physiotherapeutic, and surgical therapy, but also of providing psychological support to the patient. It is important to have a comprehensive impact on the entire body, as well as use of drugs that normalize hair growth processes at the local level.

Conservative treatment

Often the progression of focal alopecia can be stopped even at severe stages of the disease, using modern medicament preparations. The task of drug therapy is not only the gradual arrest of hair loss, but also the acceleration of their growth, even at large outbreaks.

One of the most popular conservative drugs is Spironolactone .Sold in the form of tablets. During the course of treatment, hair loss can be completely stopped. If the disease is found in the initial stages, use the drug for a month according to the instructions. When there are pronounced foci of hair loss, the course of treatment is 3 months or longer.

When detecting focal alopecia, doctors often prescribe Minoxidil .The drug is available in a liquid configuration. This drug is distributed to the outbreaks where the hair is completely absent. Apply it twice a day. The course of treatment is 3 months no longer. This drug allows you to normalize the condition of the follicles, provides rapid hair growth.

If the disease is found recently, it is advisable to use Finasteride .This drug can get rid of small foci of hair loss. To get a clear result, you need to use this drug 2 times a day. Dosage is selected after consultation with your doctor. When the drug is prescribed in the wrong dose, the symptoms of the disease may worsen. Overdosing is unacceptable, as it can provoke thinning of healthy hair, acceleration of their loss.

Please note! With proper application, the drug shows high efficiency, it allows completely cure the disease, but it is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.

The preparation Cimetidine is popular. It is characterized by antiandrogenic properties, because of what it is prescribed solely for the treatment of baldness in women.

Video - Why women are balding

Topical preparations

If alopecia areata are found, it is necessary to accurately identify the cause of the disease in order to conduct competent treatment. In some cases, doctors pay attention to several factors obtained by taking an anamnesis in a patient. Features of treatment depend on the form, stage of the disease. To quickly get a positive effect, drugs of local action are used.

Often doctors advise to use specialized shampoos. The most popular of these are Fitoval, Rinfoltil, Alerana .Often, companies provide separate lines of carers intended for people of different sexes. When choosing the right cosmetology, you need to pay attention to the type of hair for which a particular option is intended. Shampoos are used to accelerate hair growth, improve the structure of the follicles. Often in the composition of cosmetics are various vitamins, extracts from medicinal plants.

Note! Pay attention to the presence of such important components as poppy oil and lecithin. The first is necessary for the normalization of the structure of the hair, acceleration of regeneration processes. Also this component allows you to get rid of dandruff, positively affects the appearance of hair. Lecithin helps to improve the structure of the hair due to the acceleration of metabolic processes.

For complex treatment of focal alopecia are often used ointments. At the initial stages designate Fluorocord .He is numbered in the group of glucocorticoids, because of what it should be used with caution, under the supervision of a doctor. The ointment acts on the structure of the vessels, increasing their permeability. The drug is applied to the foci, where almost complete loss of hair is observed. Medicinal components accelerate the flow of nutrients into the follicles, which normalizes the process of hair growth. Ointment is distributed on the affected areas in a small layer.

Use the product 2 times a day. If the process of treating baldness begins in the last stages of the disease, you can use a ointment in the form of a compress. To mark a positive result, it is necessary to conduct a course of treatment, which is at least 3 weeks. On the recommendation of a doctor, it is often increased. With regular use of the ointment, side effects sometimes appear, which are unpleasant for patients, but do not always carry a great danger.

Itching, hyperemia and other symptoms of skin irritation are possible. It is undesirable to use ointment for fungal diseases, relative contraindication to use is pregnancy. Do not use the drug in the presence of hypersensitivity to certain components. When identifying symptoms of focal alopecia, women often are prescribed ointments for topical application.

Note! For mild disease stages, Ultralan, Lokakorten is helpful. If baldness spreads to most of the head, help Lokoid, Flucinar .

Physiotherapy treatment

Many people are given to completely get rid of focal alopecia by using a properly selected complex of physiotherapy procedures. This method of treatment is characterized by relative safety, affects locally, improving the processes of blood circulation, nutrition of the skin. Many procedures have a positive effect, virtually eliminate the risk of relapse, can be used at any age. The choice of the optimal method of treatment is carried out by the trichologist. With alopecia, electrophoresis, cryotherapy, ultrasound therapy, heat treatment, and massage are highly effective.

Basic treatment methods:

Method	Features
Galvanization	Is performed under the influence of small discharges of electricity. During the course of procedures, the formation of the necessary nutrients in a given amount is observed, the development of active components that affect the restorative processes in the skin. There is a normalization of metabolic processes, blood circulation is accelerated. With regular use of the procedure, you can restore the normal functioning of the endocrine system. Procedures are not carried out with the development of malignant neoplasms, during pregnancy and lactation.
Electrophoresis	Pre-selected drugs are injected into the skin. The positive result is saved for as long as possible. This method of treatment is highly effective if more than 8 sessions are performed. These procedures help to improve the condition of the follicles, prevent hair loss, eliminate itching and other unpleasant symptoms. Procedures are not carried out during pregnancy, as well as in the presence of mechanical damage to the skin
Darsonvalization	Is the most common and modern way of treating focal alopecia. During the procedure, there is a stimulating effect of the high frequency current on the skin. With regular procedures, nutrition of the follicles is improved, microcirculation processes are normalized. The procedure improves the conductivity of blood vessels. To achieve the desired effect, it is necessary to conduct at least 10 sessions. Darsonvalization is not carried out in the diagnosis of tumor formations
Cryotherapy	Used when detecting alopecia areata. Dosage of low temperature on the affected area is performed. Thanks to the normalization of blood circulation, metabolic processes in tissues, a positive effect can be achieved right up to complete recovery

Focal alopecia can bring a lot of unpleasant consequences for the life of the patient. To eliminate the disease, it is necessary to use complex therapy in a timely manner. If the disease passes in advanced stages, a surgical hair transplant is performed together with other medical methods. With timely access to a doctor, the prescribed therapy can completely get rid of the disease, eliminating the onset of serious consequences for life.