Alopecia Areata, which is commonly known as the baldness in spots, is a kind of hair loss affecting the scalp. It may even occur in other areas of your body. Most often, the loss of hair is observed in the scalp area. However, in some cases of alopecia areata, it can even affect other areas of the body, such as eyebrows, facial hair (i.e. mustache and bread), eyelashes, nasal hair, and cause the development of spots/patches of baldness in other areas of your body.
As a matter of fact, alopecia areata is a common health concern occurring due to certain hormonal and immunological factors. The loss of hair due to this condition occurs in both men as well as women. Also, you can find children being affected by this hair loss condition. In fact, it affects about 2% of the total population throughout the world.
Understanding Alopecia Areata:
So, you might be wondering how alopecia areata occurs, aren’t you? Let’s see. Keratin, a protein, is one of the crucial components of our hair. It is also a prominent constituent of our nails. Papilla, which is known for being a specialized structure present in our skin, tends to produce the hair. You can see it in the image below. A sac-like structure that happens to surround the papilla is known as a ‘hair follicle’. Also, the hair root present in our skin is surrounded by the hair follicle. The part of our hair which comes out of the skin surface is known as a shaft.
Alopecia areata is actually an auto-immune disorder. When your body’s immune system attacks your hair follicles mistakenly and causes their destruction, you may suffer from the symptoms (i.e. bald spots/patches) of alopecia areata. You happen to experience a hair loss of the affected areas of your body.
The most common and perceptible alopecia areata symptom is the development of bald patches on the head/scalp. Most often, hair loss occurs in the round, small coin-sized areas of the scalp. The affected individuals may develop one or many bald patches on his head. Some patients may have static bald patches, while some may develop bald patches involving bigger areas of the scalp. Some individuals may suffer extensive hair loss. In certain cases, the alopecia area can cause complete hair loss on the scalp (Alopecia Areata Totalis) or it can lead to a total hair loss on the head as well as face, and the rest of the patient’s body (i.e. Alopecia Areata Universalis).
Types Of Alopecia Areata:
There are certain types of alopecia areata that can affect your scalp and body. Find them mentioned below.
1.Alopecia Areata Monolocularis:
The presence of a single bald spot on the affected person’s scalp is characteristic of Alopecia Areata Monolocularis.
2.Alopecia Areata Multilocularis:
The appearance of multiple bald spots on the scalp is the peculiarity of Alopecia Areata Multilocularis.
3.Alopecia Areata Totalis:
Complete loss of all the hair present on the scalp is characteristic of Alopecia Areata Totalis.
4.Alopecia Areata Universalis:
The loss of all hair on the body, including the pubic hair, is the peculiarity of Alopecia Areata Universalis.
5.Alopecia Areata Barbae:
When the hair loss is restricted only to the bread area of an individual, you can say it is Alopecia Areata Barbae.
6. Traction Alopecia:
The occurrence of baldness on the temporal and frontal margins of the scalp, on account of persistent tension due to tightly tied hair, is called traction alopecia.
All the individuals experiencing alopecia areata should check for these two conditions too, as they often accompany this disorder.
1. An under-active thyroid (Hypothyroidism)
2. Diabetes Mellitus
All these three conditions are auto-immune disorders. And, their prognosis and treatment are focused on the regulation of all of them simultaneously, as it’s noticed in several cases treated effectively at Life Force.
Causes Of Alopecia Areata:
Alopecia areata causes are not yet clear yet. This sort of hair loss is regarded to be an auto-immune disorder occurring when your body’s immune system happens to attack your hair follicles mistakenly causing its destruction. The affected body area tends to lose hair. Certain factors are known to trigger your immune system to act abnormally in such a manner causing hair loss of the affected body area.
Even though the exact cause of such kind of destruction of hair follicles is not yet known, it is suspected that a genetic factor is responsible for it. If you have a family history of this condition i.e. alopecia areata or any other auto-immune disorder (such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroid, cancer, ulcerative colitis, or any other immune-mediated condition), then it can be considered as the cause of alopecia areata indicating the role of a genetic factor. Also, besides the genetic predisposition, certain triggering factors can be considered as alopecia area causes. Experiencing stress for a prolonged period too may be responsible for an auto-immune process which may make you suffer from alopecia areata. But, this may not occur in the case of every patient with this disease. Alopecia area treatment needs to consider the possible underlying causes while tackling this condition.
In addition to this, alopecia areata can affect you due to some other triggers and causative factors as mentioned below.
One or several factors which are mentioned below can be responsible for the development of the complaints of Alopecia Areata:
- Hormonal Factor: Excess amounts of male hormones (in both men & women) can be responsible for triggering the development of alopecia areata.
- Thyroid Disorders
- Drugs & Medications:
a)Some of the most common drugs and medications triggering alopecia areata are chemotherapy drugs and some medications utilized for treating hypertension, gout, depression, ischemic heart disease, arthritis, and other diseases.
b)When Vitamin A is taken in large doses, it too can stimulate alopecia
Oral contraceptive pills
- Deficiency of iron
- Fungal infection affecting the scalp
- Poor intake of proteins
- Going for chemical treatment for hair
- The exposure of hair to excessive or intense heat.
- Lichen Planus affecting your scalp (accompanied with scarring)
- Physical Stress: After a major surgery, achieving a rapid weight loss by dieting, or on account of some chronic disease
- SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
Alopecia Areata Symptoms:
- The occurrence of excessive loss of hair in small, circular patches/spots in a short time span.
- Alopecia areata can affect your scalp, beard, eyebrows, mustache, or eyelashes.
- One of many bald patches/spots.
- The underlying skin of the affected area appears normal.
- Diffused Alopecia Areata: Generalized hair thinning occurring over the scalp.
- Alopecia Totalis: Complete hair loss occurring over the scalp.
- Alopecia Universalis: Extensive loss of hair occurring over the entire body.
- Scarred Alopecia Areata: A patch/spot of alopecia which has developed a scar can’t be cured with any medicine.
Alopecia Areata Treatment
Research-proven, effective, and safe homeopathic treatment for alopecia areata can offer you commendable recovery from this condition.
The Homeopathy Treatment For Alopecia Areata
Dr. Rajesh Shah's homeopathic treatment for alopecia includes his Patented product in addition to the traditional homeopathic remedies, which offer you the best possible positive results in treating Alopecia Areata effectively.
Homeopathy considers individualized homeopathic case study protocol. The individualized homeopathic treatment for alopecia areata is based on the study of several factors of the particular patient, such as the cause, patches, genetic pattern, extent of the spread of the condition, hormonal imbalance, emotional sphere, and other factors which cause and maintain the disease.
Dr. Shah is well-known worldwide for his study and works on Alopecia Areata for more than two decades, and his patients, present in 170 nations are known to have been benefited from this effective homeopathic treatment. Homeopathic treatment tends to treat the root cause of the disease by addressing and correcting the underlying problems concerned with immunity. Thus, homeopathic treatment for alopecia areata stimulates hair growth and helps you obtain a significant recovery from this undesirable condition.
Duration Of Treatment:
The total duration of alopecia areata treatment varies from patient to patient depending on various factors as mentioned below.
- Duration of Alopecia
- The extent of spread (the presence of one or several; large or small spots)
- Affected areas of the body (scalp, beard, eyebrows, mustache, eyelashes, limbs, and other body areas)
- The medications prior to this treatment (For instance, extensive use of local or oral cortisone)
- Other associated ailments, such as an under-active thyroid, diabetes, and other auto-immune diseases
You may expect a marked improvement in your condition in about 3 to 5 months, depending on the spread or extent of the disease. The total duration of the treatment can be from 6 to 2 years or even longer.
Cases of Alopecia Totalis, Alopecia Universalis may not respond to the homeopathic treatment.
Why Homeopathy For Alopecia Areata?
Homeopathy is highly effective and safe in treating alopecia areata. Some of the prominent benefits of homeopathy are mentioned below.
- Homeopathy works on and corrects the disturbed immune system. Thus, it treats the root cause of this auto-immune disease.
- Homeopathic treatment for alopecia areata is totally safe, non-toxic, and harmless.
- It’s not a superficial treatment, but it acts at a deeper level providing you excellent improvement in your condition.
- It provides long-lasting to almost permanent results in most alopecia cases.
The Limitations Of Homeopathy:
- Homeopathy is slow-acting in comparison with steroid treatment.
- You get no improvements in the case of Alopecia Totalis (i.e. hair loss of the entire body.
- Its success rate may not be 100%.
Alopecia Areata When Masked With Immunosuppressive Medicines:
Is Your Alopecia Areata Masked With Immunosuppressive Medicines? (Guide to Patients who have taken immunosuppressive medicines)By Dr. Rajesh Shah, MD (Hom)
Several patients, who suffer from one or more of the diseases listed below, approach us for an effective treatment when their ailment happens may get masked by certain immunosuppressants.
Some diseases which may get masked by the use of other medications are mentioned below.
- Psoriasis
- Lichen Planus
- Alopecia Areata
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
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- Urticaria
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Ulcerative colitis
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- Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
- Vitiligo
- Nephrotic Syndrome
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Immunosuppressive medications help in managing inflammatory, allergic, and auto-immune conditions. They are the conventional drugs that suppress your body’s immune response. Even though these immunosuppressive drugs act effectively in treating various diseases, they come with drawbacks which are mentioned below.
- Provides only a temporary relief
- Cause drug dependency
- Significant adverse effects
- Lead to a relapse of diseases that you may find difficult to manage.
This article does not intend criticism of immunosuppressants nor intends to discuss the adverse effects of these medications, but to analyze the difficulty they pose when homeopathic treatment is initiated for the patients who have used these immunosuppressive medications earlier.
Some conventional drugs (i.e. immunosuppressants) whose use may mask the ailments are mentioned below.
- Tacrolimus (for treating vitiligo)
- Cyclophosphamide (for treating Nephrotic Syndrome)
- Cortisone (steroids) can be used as oral, injection, topical application, or mouthwash (for treating all above-mentioned ailments)
- Methotrexate (for treating the conditions like Psoriasis, Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.)
- Cyclosporine (for treating conditions like Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, etc.)
- Proposals (for treating the disorder of Psoriasis)
When approaching us for seeking effective homeopathic treatment, patients, who are currently having one of the above listed immunosuppressive drugs or have used them in the last 6 months, must note some important facts mentioned below.
a)When immunosuppressive medications’ effect ends, the ailment and its symptoms may relapse in the case of some patients if not all. You may find that in the case of skin conditions, such as alopecia areata, lichen planus, and vitiligo, the skin disorder may crop up on different body areas, though not at the same old affected body area.
b)You should never have immunosuppressive drugs life-long, under any circumstances. When you stop having them, the disease is likely to reoccur. So, it is wiser to opt for homeopathic remedies in such cases for better management of the condition.
c)The relapse of the condition, which you may experience after curbing immunosuppressive drugs, may coincide with the initiation of homeopathic treatment. You may feel that the disease has returned or an increase in the symptoms of the ailment is occurring due to the homeopathic treatment. However, you must note that homeopathic remedies never aggravate or increase the disease in such circumstances. The increase in the symptoms may occur due to the stoppage of immunosuppressants and not due to homeopathy.
d)The relapse of the disease which occurs due to curbing the use of immunosuppressive drugs may be more severe than prior.
e)The relapsed condition may be more resistant than prior. It is important to note that some diseases may relapse even after commencing the homeopathic remedies, and you may need to use immunosuppressants for some period. Some of you may think that once you start with homeopathic medicines, you no more need to have any allopathic medications. However, you must note that using immunosuppressive drugs when experiencing a relapse, after you stop using them, is not a sign of the failure of homeopathic treatment.
f)You may need it since no milder medication would act to offer you relief.
g)The frequent use of immunosuppressive medications may make your body addicted or dependent on it. Such ailments are known as ‘drug-dependent diseases’. For instance, using cortisone for treating conditions like Nephrotic Syndrome or Ulcerative colitis can make you dependent on it
h)The relapsed skin eruptions in the case of urticaria, eczema, or psoriasis after curbing immunosuppressants may be difficult to manage in the initial few episodes of relapse. These types of cases need to be managed strategically to achieve a greater success rate in beating adverse situations.
i)Immunosuppressive drugs dependent ailments of the patients can be tackled effectively with homeopathic treatment; however, it may need some time. Some cortisone-resistant or cortisone-dependent cases, particularly Nephrotic Syndrome or Ulcerative colitis, may be quite difficult to manage and may need time. And, homeopathy can’t be considered a shortcut for such difficult conditions.
You must be aware that homeopathy is indeed a quite effective medical system. However, certain disease conditions may be quite difficult to manage. Ailments, which are masked or treated using immunosuppressants, are usually considered difficult conditions.
Careful and proper evaluation, strategic planning, profound medical knowledge, a sound experience of the homeopath along with compliance of the patient prove helpful in achieving highly effective and long-lasting positive results in case of such diseases.
Homeopathy Remedies For Alopecia Areata
In addition to some of the following mentioned ingredients, Dr. Shah's research-based, internationally patented, and highly effective remedies are quite efficient enough to help you treat your hair loss complaints successfully.
Important note:
In the homeopathic system of medicine, a detailed study of every patient’s condition is carried out individually. In homeopathy, you can find no disease-specific remedies. The exact course of treatment, for instance, alopecia areata treatment, is determined only after an ‘in-depth’ study and evaluation of the particular patient’s case. Homeopathic remedies mentioned below are commonly recommended in the cases of loss of hair, just for the sake of information. The readers are not recommended to go for any sort of self-medication.
Natrum Muriaticum:
One of the most interesting examples of homeopathic remedies for hair loss is Natrum Muriaticum. The common salt, which is one of the most common cooking ingredients, is used to prepare this homeopathic remedy. As per the rule and process, sodium chloride or common salt undergoes potentization, which is a special process for activating its innate healing power, and its made fit for your healing.
Natrum Muriaticum is constitutionally known for its broad spectrum of healing power. So, a plethora of diseases affecting the skin, lungs, muscles, gastrointestinal organs, hormonal system, metabolism, nose, kidney, and some other body processes can be treated with this homeopathic medicine. In fact, Natrum Muriaticum is not only a common alopecia areata cure but it is also useful as a remedy for fissures, asthma, migraine, lichen planus, urticaria, eczema, and other diseases.
You can find that Natrum Muriaticum is often recommended for the loss of hair, particularly in anemic females.
Silicea (Silica):
One of the remarkable feats of homeopathy is that it is successful in using substances, which are known as inert, efficiently to treat a plethora of diseases. And, Silica is one such inert substance, as it’s known to be chemically inactive in its natural state, which homeopathy has succeeded in transforming into an amazing deep-acting medicine. After silica undergoes the potentization process, it is useful for treating various disease processes. In fact, Silica is known as polychrest medicine since its broad spectrum of action enables it to treat numerous ailments. It is worth noting that this homeopathic medicine has helped Homeopaths worldwide to treat certain so-called conditions requiring surgery gently without the need of a knife.
It is important to note that Silica has a positive impact on the skin, bones and joints, lungs, nerves, cellular tissues, digestive system, mucous membranes, etc. It is often used as an effective remedy in alopecia areata treatment. You can find that Silica is often recommended for treating the complaints of the loss of hair. Also,
Silica is used as a medicine for lichen planus, tuberculosis, eczema, complaints of nails, styes and chalazion, pneumonia, tonsillitis, asthmatic bronchitis, trigeminal neuralgia, vitiligo, urticaria, tuberculosis, herpes, etc.
Individuals, who need Silica, generally tend to have the tendency of easy suppuration of their skin damage or injuries.
Silica is known for its positive influence on nutrition which is why it is an important medicine for treating rickets in kids.
Phosphorus:
The potentization of inorganic phosphorus gives you amazing medicine. The latent curative powers of phosphorus are activated by the potentization process, and it gifts you an incredible medicine that is efficient and effective enough to cure a vast range of ailments.
Phosphorus mainly works on your gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, hepato-biliary system, nervous tissue, blood, bones, etc.
Often, it is used as a homeopathic alopecia areata cure. Also, it is often recommended with the homeopathic treatment of various respiratory infections, complaints due to nephrotic syndrome, symptoms of paralysis, hemorrhagic tendencies, symptoms of hepatitis, osteomyelitis, complaints of cirrhosis, and other condition. Dandruff is accompanied by the intense itching of your scalp, a large volume of hair loss, restlessness, nervousness, excitement, high sensitivity to external elements, such as sound, thunderstorms, light, touch, odors, and others, pale, watery, and profuse urination accompanied by a lot of weakness, and haematuria and albuminuria is some of the symptoms that indicate this homeopathic remedy. You may observe an increased vulnerability to colds in kids.
Lycopodium:
One of the wonderful homeopathic medicines is Lycopodium, and it’s made by using club moss (a fungus). Potentization activates the hidden curative potential of club moss and converts it into an effective deep-acting homeopathic medicine.
Lycopodium is often recommended for hair loss complaints, premature greying of hair, and premature baldness. Besides this, it is a common medicine suggested for the complaints of skin and respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal organs, urinary complaints, and reproductive organs. Also, it is often suggested for chronic cases of eczema, where the skin turns thick, hardened, and extremely raw and dry by itching. Cracked eruptions, intense itching, and offensive secretions are some symptoms that indicate this remedy. Warmth may worsen the complaints and cold applications may alleviate them.
Nitricum Acidum:
Nitricum Acidum is a medicinal drug that is prepared by using nitric acid. It is important to note that this homeopathic medicine doesn’t comprise the original drug matter in its material form. It possesses just the drug’s dynamic powers which are known to be released after it undergoes the potentization process.
Nitricum Acidum is an effective, deep-acting, constitutional medicine. It positively impacts your nerves, gastrointestinal tract, skin, glands, bones, etc.
It is one of the common remedies for the loss of hair, ulcers, gastritis, vitiligo, hemorrhoids, warts, rheumatic affections, fissures, malignancy, bony, cachexia, etc.
Nitricum Acidum is an effective alopecia areata cure for treating hair loss occurring from the vertex and scalp’s sensitiveness.
Sepia:
Homeopathy is indeed an amazing system of medicine that utilizes a vast range of natural resources from plants, minerals & compounds, to animal products to prepare effective remedies. And, Sepia is an ideal example of it. Sepia is made by using the inky juice of the cuttlefish. Homeopathic potentization activates the latent curative powers of this juice.
As a matter of fact, Sepia is known to be a polychrest medicine since its extensive spectrum of action and its use for treating a vast variety of disease processes. It is known to have a positive impact on the skin, glands, female genital organs, nerves, liver, and digestive system. Sepia is a common remedy not only for hair loss but also for lichen planus, styes and chalazion, herpes, irritable bowel syndrome, vitiligo, urinary tract infection, eczema, asthma, urticaria, and ringworm. It is a highly effective remedy for complaints related to pregnancy and gynecology.
Sepia is a particularly effective medicine for treating the loss of hair during and post the parturition and during the time of climacteric. Also, it’s an outstanding medicine used in alopecia areata treatment where hair loss occurs on the scalp leading to the development of bald patches. Sepia is also an effective remedy for treating the matting of the hair.
Graphites:
Prepared from mineral carbon i.e. black lead, Graphites is an amazing constitutional medicine known for its deep-acting power. It’s indeed a feat of homeopathy that an inert substance like it is converted into an effective medicine having an extensive spectrum of action. This homeopathic medicine has a positive impact on the gastrointestinal organs, skin, glandular tissues, nutrition, reproductive system, circulation, mind, etc.
Graphites is an effective medicine commonly indicated for hair loss, dyspepsia, obesity, eczema, fissures, menstrual complaints, callosities, ulcerations, chronic constipation, etc. It is a wonderful remedy for complaints of menopause and it’s often recommended for the discomfort occurring during the menopausal time.
It is worth noting that Graphites is an effective remedy for hair fall, the development of alopecia patches occurring on the occiput area on the scalp on account of moist eruptions, and hair loss at the temples. Besides this, it is used in alopecia areata treatment for infants.
Phosphoric Acid:
Potentization of Glacial Phosphoric Acid gives you an amazing constitutional homeopathic medicine that possesses deep-acting powers. It’s a wonderful medicine for treating psychological debility after which physical debility follows leading to several complaints. Phosphoric Acid is often used for hair loss, debility, hemorrhages, gastrointestinal complaints, diabetes, sexual complaints, depression, and other health issues.
When you suffer from premature graying of hair or early hair fall, phosphoric acid serves as a good remedy. It also treats conditions where hair falls out of the eyebrows, scalp, genitals, and other body parts, when you experience hair fall due to acute ailments, such as fevers, and when complaints occur after you lose lots of crucial body fluids due to some acute ailments.
Fluoric Acid:
Fluoric Acid is another wonderful medicine that is prepared by the process of potentization of hydrofluoric acid. It is well-known for being one of the most effective and excellent medicine for hair loss. Some of its common indications are hair loss in spots from the scalp after fever, sticky hair, the loss of hair that occurs due to syphilis, hair gets matted together and entangled, and the occurrence of the loss of hair & alopecia areata after a long-term febrile disease or typhoid. Fluoric acid is an excellent homeopathic medicine for treating the complaints of alopecia areata effectively.