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Alopecia areata
Does washing hair aggravate hair loss in alopecia areata?
The causes of alopecia areata are complex and mostly related to individual factors, so ordinary hair washing generally does not exacerbate the condition. The main factors are still linked to a decrease in personal immunity, genetic inheritance, lack of vitamins and trace elements in the body, or long-term consumption of spicy and stimulating foods, frequent staying up late, anxiety, tension, and poor mood. However, frequent hair dyeing or perming, and the use of hair products with strong irritants such as hair gels and conditioners, may aggravate the symptoms of alopecia areata. Once this disease occurs, it is essential to seek treatment at accredited medical institutions. With long-term persistence, it is entirely possible to cure the disease completely.
How long does it generally take for a small patch of alopecia areata to recover?
Alopecia areata, commonly known as "ghost shearing", is often related to immune factors in its causes and mechanism of onset. It is important to rest and provide symptomatic treatment with immune modulation. Generally, recovery can be expected within about a month. Oral medications such as cysteine tablets, folic acid tablets, vitamin B6 tablets, and pimecrolimus granules can be taken. In the area affected by alopecia areata, topical application of dermatan sulfate polysaccharide cream, tacrolimus ointment, combined with the use of minoxidil solution is recommended to promote local circulation and thereby facilitate hair regrowth. Additionally, other physical therapy measures can be supportive, including traditional Chinese medicine treatments such as plum-blossom needle tapping and local intense pulsed light therapy. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
What causes alopecia areata?
The causes of alopecia areata are varied, and the specific factors for each individual may differ. However, it is mainly related to reduced immunity, lack of vitamins and trace elements, long-term consumption of spicy and irritating food, frequent staying up late with anxiety and tension, and poor mood. Some teens may also develop alopecia areata if they frequently suffer from scalp folliculitis, abscesses, or cysts, which can damage the hair follicles. Only a small number of cases may be related to genetic inheritance. Therefore, once this condition occurs, it is essential to seek treatment at a formal medical institution. With long-term persistence, it is possible to cure the condition, and adopting good dietary and lifestyle habits can help with the treatment.
What should I do about alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata, commonly known as "ghost shaving," has an unknown cause and its onset mechanism is related to the immune system. Factors such as fatigue, anxiety, nervousness, and lack of sleep can all trigger this condition, and it requires supportive symptomatic treatment such as immune modulation. Oral administration of L-cysteine tablets, vitamin B6 tablets, and compound glycyrrhizin tablets, along with topical application of 5% minoxidil spray in the affected area, as well as chondroitin sulfate polysulfate cream or pimecrolimus cream, combined with physical therapy measures like helium-neon laser irradiation, are recommended. It is also important to rest, consume dark-colored foods including black sesame, black fungus, and black rice, and maintain a good emotional state. (Note: The use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)
What should I do if a patch of alopecia areata doesn't grow back?
Alopecia areata, commonly known as "ghost shaving," is a type of immune-related skin disease. It is important to rest, provide immune modulation and other symptomatic treatments, eat more black-colored foods, and maintain a good mood. Take oral thymopeptide enteric capsules, cysteine tablets, vitamin B6 tablets, folic acid tablets, and other medications. For the bald areas, apply a 5% concentration of minoxidil spray and heparin polysulfate mucopolysaccharide cream. The purpose is to improve scalp microcirculation to stimulate hair follicles and promote hair regeneration. Simultaneously, supplementary physical therapy measures can be used, including traditional Chinese medicine techniques such as plum-blossom needle tapping and local treatment with 308 nm excimer laser radiation, three times a week, for a total of ten sessions per treatment course.
What is causing the itchy alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata, commonly known as "ghost shaving," often manifests itching symptoms which usually indicate a local inflammatory response. It requires comprehensive treatment including regulation and immunity, attention to rest, ensuring adequate sleep, and maintaining a good mood. It's advisable to consume more black foods and take oral medications like compound glycyrrhizin tablets and folic acid tablets. For the affected alopecia areata areas, topical applications of minoxidil spray, dermatan sulfate chondroitin sulfate cream, or pimecrolimus cream can be used. Additional physical measures include treatment with fractional laser and helium-neon laser radiation. If necessary, local injections of compound betamethasone injection solution or triamcinolone acetonide can be administered to achieve anti-inflammatory effects.
What causes alopecia areata?
There are many causes of alopecia areata, the most common being various infections, such as bacterial and fungal infections. Psychological factors also play a significant role, such as excessive mental stress, frequent anxiety, depression, irritability, etc. Additionally, traumatic injuries can trigger alopecia areata. If there are underlying internal diseases, they can also cause alopecia areata. Hormonal imbalances, especially in women before and after pregnancy due to irregular secretion of estrogen and androgen, can lead to alopecia areata. Therefore, there are various reasons for alopecia areata. If you have patches of hair loss on your scalp, it is advisable to visit a reputable hospital for a check-up to determine the specific cause. Under a doctor's guidance, you might use hair regrowth medications such as compound scytonemin hair tonic or minoxidil solution for treatment. It is also important to avoid staying up late.
What should I do if alopecia areata has expanded?
When there is an expansion of alopecia areata, local injections of corticosteroids can be used. The treatment with corticosteroids is a kind of occlusive therapy, primarily involving injecting corticosteroids into the area of hair loss. This can suppress inflammation and immune responses around the hair follicles, enabling hair growth and potentially preventing the expansion of alopecia areata. However, some individuals may experience localized skin atrophy after corticosteroid injections, and some may experience depigmentation. Therefore, when alopecia areata is expanding, it is advisable to seek timely treatment at a dermatology department in a reputable hospital. Under the guidance of a doctor, treatment can include topical application of minoxidil solution, or the use of compound preparations like compound styradan tonic for hair growth, as well as oral medications such as cysteine tablets, compound glycyrrhizin capsules, and treatment based on Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and differentiation.
How long will it take for alopecia areata to fully recover once fuzz has started to grow?
Alopecia areata, once showing new fuzz, usually takes three to six months to return to normal. The appearance of fuzz indicates that the alopecia areata is in the recovery phase. In the early recovery stage, lighter-colored fuzz will grow in the area where hair was lost, and this fuzz will gradually turn into normal hair. During the active phase of alopecia areata, there will be noticeable hair loss, while in the dormant phase, the hair loss will stop. Three to four months after the dormant phase, most patients enter the recovery phase, reaching the stage where this small fuzz appears. Hence, the appearance of such fuzz signifies that the alopecia areata is nearing recovery, and new hair will grow during this phase. There are many causes of alopecia areata; it is important to avoid staying up late regularly.
Will eyebrows grow back if they fall out due to alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata commonly manifests as patchy hair loss from the scalp. If the condition causes eyebrow loss, it is considered more severe and requires professional treatment at a dermatology department in an accredited hospital. It can be completely cured eventually, but the treatment period may be lengthy. It's important to enhance your immune system through regular exercise, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and prevent staying up late, anxiety, or stress. A diverse diet rich in vegetables and fruits is recommended, along with appropriate medications, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine or Western medicine. Treatments like plum blossom needle tapping or local medicinal injections may also be used. Overall, this condition requires a comprehensive long-term treatment approach.