Alopecia Totalis

Introduction

Alopecia totalis is the loss of all scalp hair. It is believed to be an autoimmune disease, the immune system attack hair follicles causing hair loss.  Stress is another contributor of Alopecia totalis.  Excessive hair loss occurs at once in the case of illness or cancer treatment, autoimmune disorders, stress or hormonal changes. Environment can also contribute to the cause of this disease. It can affect both male and female under the age of forty.

Symptoms

Alopecia totalis may start as a receding hair line growing gradually or sudden. In the beginning patches of hair loss can be seen on the scalp along with tingly feeling or pain. In some cases hair loss seems to be affecting one side of the scalp. This further can lead to a total baldness. Another indication of Alopecia is to be able to pull out ones hair easily.

Diagnosis of Alopecia totalis 

Although one knows that Alopecia totalis means hair fall in large amount, still doctor will examine your medical history, physical examination and a family history as there is an unknown genetic cause that makes your immune system to attack hair follicles and causes Alopecia totalis. Examination of scalp for hair fall patterns is done and the doctor also looks at the individual hairs. Blood samples are taken to know the causes of the diseases. If you have just begun to lose hair vitamins or medications helps to slow down the hair loss. But in cases of total hair loss hair can regrow only after hair transplant surgery.


Treatments

Methotrexate and corticosteroids are most popular treatments for Alopecia totalis . These medications usually come in the form of creams or injections and are applied to an affected area. These are effective where the patches of hair loss are small. Elocon ointmet and minoxidil can also be used.

Dr Pradeep Sethi, MD(AIIMS),         Dr Arika Sethi, MD(AIIMS)
Direct Hair Transplantation Center
Dehradun/Rishikesh/Gurgaon
Ph:   +91-8057541540
dhtclinic@gmail.com

www.directhairtransplantation.com