What are the tests for alopecia areata?

Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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The causes of alopecia areata are quite complex, mostly related to an individual's diet or lifestyle habits, such as long-term consumption of spicy and stimulating foods, or overly flavored foods. Additionally, some people have long-term poor nutrition, unhealthy eating habits, irregular meal times, and lifestyle habits such as frequent staying up late, feeling anxious, stressed, or being in a bad mood; all these are triggering factors. For a general examination, one can first go to the hospital to check for trace elements to see what is lacking. A complete blood count could also be performed to check for symptoms of anemia, or one could visit the dermatology department of a regular hospital to test the hair follicles and see if there is any local follicle necrosis. This disease can be completely cured by seeking treatment in the dermatology department of a regular hospital, using oral and topical medications, provided the treatment is adhered to.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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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.)

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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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.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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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.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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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.)

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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The differences between alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and androgenetic alopecia

Alopecia areata generally occurs only on the scalp with patchy hair loss, usually mild, affecting just a few patches. Total alopecia is an extension of alopecia areata, where hair loss progresses to complete baldness. Universal alopecia is more severe, involving not only complete hair loss on the scalp but also potential loss of eyebrows, armpit hair, pubic hair, and even all body hair. These three conditions represent a progressive worsening, with alopecia areata being the mildest and universal alopecia being the most severe. The treatment plans for these conditions are roughly the same, but the duration varies; long-term persistence is necessary, along with proper medication from a dermatology department in a reputable hospital.