If you are suffering from alopecia, you are not alone. It is estimated that this type of hair loss is extremely widespread – nearly 7 million people are affected by this autoimmune condition.
Typically, this condition causes the hair to fall out in patches. These patches can connect and make the condition more noticeable. It can affect your scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and other parts of your body, but its manifestation is mostly different for every person. One thing is for sure, there is nothing to be ashamed of, and many people choose to rock their hair loss proudly. However, there are ways for you to deal with the symptoms, according to your preferences.
Topical agents
While there is no definite cure for alopecia, some methods might help slow down hair loss, or even reverse it for some people. Through a process of trial and error you may find what works best for you.
One of the suggestions would be topical agents, which may stimulate growth. Products that contain organic compounds like minoxidil, anthralin, and clobetasol. However, all of these substances may irritate your skin, especially if the treated area is large. Prior to any treatments, we advise you to speak to your GP or a dermatologist.
Injections
Similarly, steroid injections are another form of treatment, where the balding area is injected with small needles that apply the chemicals directly to the hairless patches. This may help hair regrow, but there is no guarantee that it will stave off further hair loss.
Laser and light therapy
This is by far the safest option of all. There are no possible side effects to your health, unlike the treatments mentioned above. What light therapy does is that it introduces specific wavelengths of UV light to the affected areas to stimulate the growth of new hairs. Laser treatment has a similar effect, but it relies on delivering specific doses of radiation for treating bald spots.
Natural remedies
When people notice hair loss, usually their first reaction would be to find a quick remedy or miracle drug, without taking the time to figure out what may have triggered it. The most common triggers are stress and poor nutrition, even though the real cause for alopecia is still unknown. Alternative remedies that don’t include heavy medication, such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, and essential oils (such as castor and tea tree oil). Rosemary watercan boost hair growth by inhibiting hormonal changes that lead to hair loss, improving circulation to the follicles, acting as an antioxidant, and decreasing inflammation on the scalp.
Wigs and hair extensions
Looking for a cure may take some time, and many people would rather avoid having to explain their newly-discovered condition to family members and colleagues.
This is perfectly understandable, as is the fact that many professions rely on first impressions and image, and any kind of condition could affect the person’s career. This is where wigs, toupees, and hair extensions may come in handy. If your hair loss is minimal, with small patches, you could resort to natural human hair tape hair extensions, especially in the summer, when it is simply too hot for wigs. In addition, lash extensions and false lashes can hide bald spots in your eye lashes, and microblading is a great solution for thinning eyebrows.
Healthy diet
As mentioned earlier, alopecia may be triggered by a diet lacking essential vitamins and minerals. Since this is an autoimmune condition, an anti-inflammatory diet will certainly benefit anyone suffering from it. This will help reduce inflammatory processes in the system, thus reducing the body’s immune response. This diet mostly consists of foods that ease inflammation processes – veggies and fruits like nuts, berries, root vegetables, leafy greens, plenty of fish and lean meats. When on this diet you should avoid sugars and processed food, as well as dairy products like milk and cheese. Additionally, it would be a smart idea to supplement vitamin D, B12, B6, vitamin C and Zinc.
Exercise
Believe it or not, regular physical activity may indirectly aid hair growth. Alopecia is often stress-induced, so finding ways to relieve stress is definitely going to be beneficial in treating it. Spending time outside during a light jog, joining the gym, or even going to yoga classes or swimming not only gives you the opportunity to move your body and de-stress, but also meet new people and have fun at the same time. Regular exercise helps balance out hormones, which as a result may prevent hair loss from reoccurring.
While the cure for alopecia may take some time to be discovered, as well as the possible cause, there are ways you can manage your condition, and maybe even reverse the effect of hair loss. While suffering from this condition is extremely stressful and even traumatic for some (especially women), we advise you to try and keep the negative self-talk to a minimum, since stress will just speed up the process. If you find clumps of hair on your pillow every morning, first change what you can, like your diet and lifestyle, and if that does not help, discuss options with your doctor. In the meantime, use this as an opportunity to rock as many different hairstyles as you want, hell, try on a different wig every day! Just stay positive and learn to accept yourself just as you are – beautiful and unique.
