Alopecia aerata is known as an auto-immune hair loss problem which may occurs with children, teens, and adults. Despite its sudden occurrence and fast effects on the hair growth, alopecia aerata is known to be impermanent. This means individuals suffering from this hair loss problem still have a chance of getting the hair re-grow within certain period of time, although it may depend on their genes and family history of baldness.
How permanent is alopecia aerata?
Whether alopecia aerata will be permanent with certain individuals is not easy to define, as it may depends on several factors, such as genetics and stress level. However, this hair loss problem is known to be less permanent than those of alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis, and androgenetic alopecia. There are also variety of treatments which can be performed to treat alopecia aerata, which may stimulate hair re-growth. However, there are also a number of patients who experience more severe alopecia developed from alopecia aerata, making this hair loss problem permanence quite arbitrary.
How long does it take for alopecia areata to grow back?
In most cases of alopecia aerata, patients experience hair re-growth within months after its first encounter. With alopecia aerata, hair loss begins with bald patches on the scalp which may develop in numbers. Therefore, when the patients have their hair re-grow, initially, these new hair will look thinner, fine, and white in color. However, along the time, these hair will develop its normal color and thickness, resembling the rest of the hair on the scalp. Some treatments, such as corticoids injections on the affected patches on the scalp might be helpful in triggering hair growth, although it also depends on the type and severity of the problem.
Although alopecia aerata is less permanent than other types of alopecia diseases, it is very difficult to cure. It means, people suffer from this hair loss problem will hardly get rid of the problem even after the fallen hair from the first encounter has re-grown. The main problem with alopecia aerata, in fact, is that this hair problem tends to re-occur. Thus, people experiencing bald patches on the scalp and have their hair fully re-grow will likely to experience the same thing in some periods of their life.
Apart from affecting the hair, alopecia aerata also tends to affect the nails—both fingernails and toenails, causing tiny dents and dryness to these nails. However, these nail problems are also going to recover along with the hair re-growth. Alopecia aerata which affects not only the hair, but also the nails commonly happens to children and teenagers, although young adults may also be susceptible.
Despite this, this kind of disease really depends on your unique, individual immune system. This includes the chance of having the hair loss stop or the hair grows back. Some people with severe alopecia aerata might find the hair in certain bald areas re-grow and in some other areas do not.
What can we do?
Alopecia aerata do not make people look sick. It is also not contagious, itching, or painful. Most patients also experience a quite high chance of hair re-growth within 12 months, although it may re-occur as recurrent hair loss problem. However, this hair loss problem may does distract people’s appearance. There are some things you can do while waiting for the bald patches to improve.
- Wearing hairpieces. Since the disease causes aesthetic distraction, you can conceal it by wearing hairpieces which is made of human or synthetic hair which can be attached to the scalp with glue or clips.
- Apply hair care products which improve scalp health. It is even better to discuss this with a dermatologist, as some products may instead trigger worse hair loss.
- Avoid dyeing the hair. Hair dye might contains harsh substances which affect the health of hair follicles and thus, delay hair re-growth. During alopecia aerata healing, therefore, it is important to avoid not only hair dye, but also all kinds of hair treatments which involve harsh products and substances which may delay the healing.
- Wear headwear when going out to prevent your hair from long exposure to sunlight which may loosen the hair follicles.