Greeting and welcome to another Locs Talk, where I talk about all things Locs and Loose-Natural hair. This talk affects all with hair, EVERYONE. As promised from my talk about Traction Alopecia, which can be avoided, I am going to discuss the medical form of Alopecia, which studies have shown are in most cases related to a compromised immune system. The medically related form of alopecia is called Alopecia Areata or (AA). AA is a sudden hair loss that starts with circular bald patches that may overlap. AA occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles and may be brought on by severe stress. The main symptom of AA is hair loss. Diagnosis and treatment may address any underlying conditions and include topical scalp medications. Make no mistake about it, AA is a medical condition that must be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional.
AA is not the same as traction alopecia. Your hairdresser/ Loctician is not qualified to diagnose AA. While many may have the remedies and tools to help with the attempt to regrow your hair, it is very important to get a proper diagnosis and treatment beforehand. Do not let anyone treat your scalp before getting a proper diagnosis. Often times, AA cannot be cured, due to an ongoing chronic or underlying condition that compromised your immune system. Regrowing your hair may NOT be possible in many of these types of cases. Be mindful of that when seeking regrowth treatment with your hairdresser. There also is no guarantee of your hair regrowing. You should not attempt regrowth treatments until you have been treated and are in remission. I had AA when I was 8 years old, and it took a while before my mom could work on regrowing my hair back because we had to work on my health and restrengthen my immune system first. From the onset of AA to regrowing my hair, it took 13 months before all my hair grew back strong and healthy.
"What doctor do I see to get an AA diagnosis?" Excellent question: AA can be diagnosed by your PCP (primary care physician) or a Board-Certified Dermatologist. It is diagnosed by visually looking for a pattern of baldness where hair loss has occurred; they also look at hair samples under a microscope; and finally, in some cases, a scalp biopsy may be necessary in order to rule out other conditions that cause hair loss. There is also an ANA blood test that can help diagnose AA.
Some of the underlying conditions that can lead to AA are:
Depression & Anxiety
Vitiligo
Lichen Planus
Morphea
Lichen Sclerosis et atrophic us
Pemphigus
Foliaceus
Atopic Dermatitis
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Hypothyroidism
Endemic Goiter
Addison's Disease
Pernicious Anemia
Lupus Erythematosus
Diabetes Mellitus
Down's Syndrome
and others ..., information cited from the Indian Journal of Dermatology, based on AA and Autoimmunity Clinical Study.
Alopecia in itself is an umbrella term for conditions characterized by hair loss. Often times, traction alopecia and alopecia areata are mistaken by many as being the same. Let me assure you, they are not. There are 3 main types of medically induced alopecia: Alopecia Areata (most common), alopecia totalis; a chronic condition of complete hair loss with AA (treatment outcomes are best when the disease is caught at early onset), and alopecia universailis; characterized by complete hair loss on scalp and body, the most advance form of AA.
Treatment
Hair regrowth after treatment in many cases is a 50/50 chance and can take up to a year for hair to regrow. Most who has had a case of AA will likely experience more than one case of AA in their lifetime. Hair regrowth can take months, which requires a lot of patience in order to keep stress levels low. Stress is a major factor that can reinduce symptoms of AA and cause another case to occur. Remember, there is no guarantee of regrowth and for those who do, case by case, there is a 50/50 chance of success.
Here are some tips to help stop the spread of AA:
Avoid hair and scalp trauma. I have viewed videos and reels of women with pretty severe cases of AA getting their hair braided. While the outcome looks nice, this can worsen the condition and may cause permanent hair loss. I know how important a woman's hair is to her, but trauma to the scalp and hair won't help with treatment.
Try to reduce stress; stress can induce AA or make it worse.
Take advantage of Corticosteroid treatments, for more severe cases (if necessary).
A change in diet can also help reverse the effects of AA there are certain foods that can be eliminated from your diet that may aid in an improvement of your overall health and reduce the symptoms of AA. (Do the research to find what works best for you)
Here are the steps you should take if you ever notice hair loss that may be a result of AA:
See your PCP or a Board-Certified Dermatologist for diagnosis.
Under doctor's care and instruction, complete any necessary treatment that is recommended in your prognosis (follow-up care).
Seek assistance from your haircare provider (if qualified to treat scalp and hair regrowth) to aid you in regrowing your hair (remember, this takes time and patience).
Alopecia Areata is a condition of hair loss that affects so many and can really take a toll on one's self-esteem. Diagnosis of AA has help many discover they had chronic illnesses, they didn't know they had prior to onset of AA, and this discovery has helped them in those cases to get the treatment they needed. AA in many cases, is your body's way of telling you there is something medically wrong and requires attention and treatment. While such a warning comes off as a killer of one's self-esteem, it can also be seen as a life saver in a way. I would have never known how ill I was as a child, had I not suffered from a bad case of AA. Yes, it killed my self-esteem immensely due to the baldness and being bullied at school; but it also saved my life and for that part, I am forever grateful.
Thank you for reading this week's blog of Locs Talk with Pammie. Take care of your crown and your crown will take care of you. Until next time, love and light to you.
Pammie
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