About 50% of patients' hair will regrow in one year without any treatment.[2] If the affected region is small, it is reasonable to observe the progression of the illness as the problem often spontaneously regresses and the hair grows back. In 90% of cases, the hair will, ultimately, grow back. In the other 10%, only some or no hair will regrow.[citation needed]
In cases where there is severe hair loss, there has been limited success treating alopecia areata with clobetasol or fluocinonide, steroid injections, or cream. Steroid injections are commonly used in sites where there are small areas of hair loss on the head or especially where eyebrow hair has been lost. Some other medications used are minoxidil, elocon ointment (steroid cream) irritants (anthralin or topical coal tar), and topical immunotherapy cyclosporine, each of which are sometimes used in different combinations.
Oral corticosteroids decrease the hair loss, but only for the period during which they are taken, and these drugs have adverse side effects.[4]
For small patches on the beard or head it is possible to suppress with topical tacrolimus ointments like Protopic. Symptoms may remain suppressed until aggravated by stress or other factors. Treatment with tacrolimus is recommended only for short periods of time due to adverse side effects.[citation needed]
Initial stages may be kept from increasing by applying topical corticosteroids. However, topical corticosteroids frequently fail to enter the skin deeply enough to affect the hair bulbs, which are the treatment target.[4]
In terms of adapting to the disease rather than treating in an effort to cure, there are also many options available. Wigs are often used by those with Alopecia, particularly Alopecia Totalis, in which hair is entirely lost from the scalp. Wigs are available at many levels of development and technology, including wigs with suction mechanisms to keep it firmly attached to the scalp. Most of the wigs available are so well made that it is impossible without close investigation to tell whether they are a person's actual hair, or a wig.
source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alopecia_areata
Monday, March 29, 2010
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