Alopecia - Can Non-Surgical Hair Systems work as a solution?
Tarun, a 23-year-old successful computer graphics expert, was horrified when his hair started falling out in whole bunches out of nowhere. And in a matter of a few days, he started noticing bald patches on his scalp. It would be an understatement to say that he was shocked. He felt traumatised. There was no history of baldness in his family and no one to guide. He was at a loss on how to handle it. On contacting a Trichologist, he was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. What is Alopecia? Alopecia, in essence, refers to hair loss from the body. It is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the hair follicles. It also occurs when one is suffering from other autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, thyroid disorders and eczema-like skin conditions which are of similar nature. Alopecia can be of various types. The intensity or nature of hair loss changes with each type. It can be hair loss in patches on the scalp or even complete hair loss on the scalp. There are cases when one experiences complete body hair loss. Whatever the kind, it needs medical, professional help. Common types of Alopecia... Androgenetic/ Androgenic Alopecia is perhaps the most common form of Alopecia that affects both men and women. This is also referred to as Male Pattern Thinning (MPT) and Female Pattern Thinning (FPT) respectively. It relates to the genetic structure and hormonal activity in the body. Alopecia Areata is another kind which results in hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body in round patches. It can occur in both males and females at any age, but it often begins in childhood. Although not lifethreatening, it is undoubtedly life altering and naturally has a profound psychological effect thanks to the pressures of an image-oriented society. Alopecia Universalis, Alopecia Totalis, Traction Alopecia, Cicatricial Alopecia are some of the various types of hair loss that leads to experiences of different intensities. Which factors lead to Alopecia? A person’s immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles which results in the arrest of hair growth. There is little data available on no clue what triggers this off in different individuals, but research suggests that genetics are responsible for developing the disease as well as the degree of severity. Having said that, genetics doesn’t always explain it all. Alopecia often skips generations with no trend or predictability. Generally, the tendency to atopic disorders is observed in families. Alopecia Areata has been closely linked with increased levels of stress. Stress causes the sympathetic nerves to increase their production of chemicals called neuropeptides in the skin. These neuropeptides increase the autoimmune reaction of the skin, affecting the hair follicles in it. This causes baldness in patches. So, if you have recently been facing much stress at work or with studies or going through any personal emotional episode in your life, it may be the probable cause of alopecia in your case. How to identify if you have Alopecia? ●
Typically, it all starts with excessive hair loss and some see it happen in lumps or bunches falling off. Further, you would first notice a smooth bald patch immediately or within 24 hours and can feel a tingling sensation or pain in the affected area. This patch can progress to alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis. In some people, the nails look as if a pin has made rows of tiny dents whereas, in some people, the nails are severely distorted.
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The cuticle could be missing, and there could be longitudinal cracks along the length of the hair. The irregular construction of the hair gives it weak spots where it can readily break off. This issue will give