Alopecia (abnormal hair loss) hair loss treatments

Alopecia, the pathological hair loss, refers to a hair loss problem that is due to various causes such as age, illness, lifestyle, medication, and hereditary factors. Hair experts can assess the cause based on the progression of hair loss and when. For example, sudden hair loss is usually attributed to an illness, medical treatments such as chemotherapy, or a change in diet. Gradual hair loss is more of a hereditary problem and is part of the normal aging process. This type of alopecia is one of the most common hair loss problems and can be seen in both men and women .  

Other types of alopecia include:

• Very sudden hair loss, in which the person loses their hair in patches, needs to be evaluated by a health professional. This could be a symptom of an underlying disease; it can be an autoimmune disease that is causing the hair loss.
• The hair follicles can be destroyed by thyroid, anemia and anorexia diseases. It can also occur as a side effect of certain medications, such as medications used to treat heart conditions, high blood pressure, and depression.
• The patterns of hair loss in men and women are very different; in men, hair loss generally occurs near the hairline, on the scalp, or on the back of the head. In women, hair loss occurs predominantly on the front and top of the scalp. Hair loss is a huge problem in America facing an astonishing 80 million or more men and women.

Alopecia Treatment

After all the bad news, it's encouraging to know that there is good news too . There are different types of hair loss treatment. If hair loss is the symptom of a medical problem, the problem needs to be treated first. For hereditary hair loss, treatments in the form of hair regrowth therapies and some over-the-counter treatments are available. There are also surgical techniques for hair transplantation. 

The first step to healthier hair growth is to see a doctor, who will likely run some tests to help make a diagnosis. Sometimes the general practitioner recommends the patient to a dermatologist if the hair loss is related to a skin problem. Only after determining the cause will the doctor prescribe treatment.

In addition to the over-the-counter treatments, hair transplant, scalp flap, laser treatment, and scalp reduction are some of the alopecia treatments available.

Alopecia in itself does not cause complications; the only problem is actually the loss of self-confidence when hair loss occurs.