Alopecia, everything you need to know about this problem involving scalp and hair. What is alopecia
Alopecia is the decrease in the amount, or more or less total loss, of hair on the head or body hair. It affects males more, but the cases in females have also greatly increased. The different types of alopecia
There are different types of alopecia, the main ones being
- Alopecia androgenetica
- Alopecia areata
- Seborrheic alopecia
- Dandruff alopecia
- Radiation alopecia
- Alopecia da stress
- Disease alopecia
The causes of alopecia
The causes can be many, and vary according to the type of alopecia itself.
When it comes to androgenetic alopecia , the cause is attributed to a hormone. An excess of DHT (or dildrotestosterone) is harmful to the hair follicles and causes thinning of the hair, especially in the areas of the forehead (typical and the “receding”) and the upper part of the head. It mainly affects men. Alopecia areata
is characterized by the presence of patches without hair or hair when it affects the face. Among the causes it is hypothesized an immunodeficiency, but also alterations of the nervous system, hormonal imbalances, local or systemic infections, heredity.
Seborrheic alopeciaand caused by an excess production of sebum, or fat, which suffocates the hair follicles. It affects more or less the same areas as androgenetic alopecia.
Dandruff alopecia behaves in the same way as seborrheic alopecia. It damages the follicles and in the long run also the bulbs. Stress alopecia
is often temporary, and resolves when the person regains his equilibrium. Stress can also cause dermatitis (seborrheic), forms of psoriasis, alterations in microcirculation. Disease alopecia
. Behind alopecia there can be systemic diseases, even serious ones. Among these: diabetes, leukemia, endocrine diseases, etc. To dispel any doubts it is important to contact your doctor.Symptoms of alopecia
The most obvious symptom is hair thinning. This is often accompanied by a degradation of the quality of the hair itself. Other symptoms can be: itching, redness, inflammation, burning. The diagnosis of alopecia
The diagnosis is made by the dermatologist. Often just the observation of the hair and scalp is enough to arrive at a diagnosis of alopecia. In some cases, an examination called a trichogram, which assesses the health of the hair, may be prescribed. Traditional cures and natural remedies for alopecia
Among the traditional cures there are
- Ampoules and anti-hair loss lotions . They are used for local treatments (the type depends on the type of alopecia).
- High frequency . It is a biostimulation that acts on the follicles, revitalizing them.
- Laser . The laser also works by stimulating the hair follicles.
Among the natural remedies there are
- Amino acids . The integration of amino acids (or amino acids) such as taurine seems to have a protective effect on the hair bulb. Taurine is found in foods of animal origin such as eggs, fish, meat, milk.
- Herbs and plants . Among the officinal plants and herbs there are maidenhair (revitalizing), nettle (anti-hair loss), ginkgo biloba (pro-circulation), serenoa repens (hormonal rebalancing). They can be prepared in the form of a decoction that will be used as a lotion with which to massage the scalp.
- Essential oils . The essential oils indicated in hair loss are lavender, cardamom, salvia officinalis, clary sage, rosemary. All of these alone, or rather together, can be used in the treatment of alopecia. They should always be mixed with vegetable oil with which the scalp is then gently massaged to promote absorption.
- Onion . A grandmother’s remedy involves rubbing half an onion on the scalp. It seems to help fight excess sebum and strengthen the follicles.
