Alopecia: Millions Affected By Hair Loss

What if you woke up one day and realized all of your hair was gone? Total body hair loss is an unfortunate reality for some. Some people wake up and find increasing amounts of their hair falling out in patches each week until a couple of months later, they’re bald. They spend years covering up bald spots or discovering chunks of hair stuck in their brush from each use. Many sit and watch their identity slowly fall away and feel like there’s really nothing they can do about it. These people suffer from Alopecia Areata and it can be a very emotionally devastating disease. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, over 6.6 million people in the United States and 147 million worldwide have, had or will develop Alopecia Areata at some point in their lives.

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune skin disease that causes hair loss on the scalp and possibly other areas of the body. T-cells attack the hair follicles hiding them from immune recognition. It generally starts with hair on the scalp falling out in patches,  creating smooth round bald spots which can eventually progress to total scalp hair loss (Alopecia Totalis) or complete body hair loss (Alopecia Universalis). The disease can affect anyone at any age but symptoms often begin during childhood. The cause of Alopecia Areata is still unknown and we do not know what activates the autoimmune reaction. Research suggests it could be a combination of genetic susceptibility or environmental triggers that may confuse the immune system.

As mentioned, having Alopecia Areata can be very emotional for those suffering from its symptoms. Many are embarrassed by hair loss and feel as if they have lost what makes them attractive or normal. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation offers support networks to those suffering from the disease as well as their loved ones. They even established a NAAF Pen Pals Programs which provides a great opportunity to connect and meet, via email or letters, with those affected.

There is no cure for Alopecia and the hair can re-grow and fallout for a period of a few months, years or a lifetime, which makes the disease difficult to predict. There are some dermatologist who will prescribe medicines and topical creams that can be used to help hair grow back faster but even with these, hair loss can still occur. At New England Associates® we provide several surgical and non-surgical solutions to help those suffering from severe hair loss such as our HairStart® Laser Hair Therapy™ Treatments, hair transplants, InVisiStrand hair replacements and more! If you or someone you know is suffering from Alopecia Areata who wants their confidence back, call 1-866-HairStart for your free microscopic hair and scalp analysis. For more information visit our website at www.newenglandassociates.com.

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Since 1982 New England Associates® has known hair loss is as individual as you are. New England Associates® offers all of the procedures that work to repair, replace, restore, and grow hair. We are members of the American Hair Loss Council and the Better Business Bureau. Locations include Wakefield, MA and Manchester, NH. Our hair restoration options include hair and scalp treatments, non-medical hair replacement, laser hair therapy treatments, hair transplants and shampoos and vitamins for fine and thinning hair.

Disclaimer: Not all clients experience the same results. Call today to determine which procedures are best tailored to you.

See Also:

https://www.naaf.org/alopecia-areata

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-and-scalp-problems/alopecia-areata

Certain Prescription Medications Can Contribute to Hair Loss

Many common medications are known to contribute to hair loss and most people are unaware that their prescriptions could be drastically affecting their hair. There are certain drugs that may induce hair loss, but it is first important to understand the two types of drug-induced hair loss that can occur.

When drugs cause hair loss they do so by interrupting the normal cycle of hair scalp growth. When hair is growing it has two stages, the anagen phase (the hair growth phase) and the telogen phase (the hair resting phase). When the hair completes the resting phase, it falls out and is replaced with new hair through the anagen phase. When medications cause hair loss it can lead to two different forms of hair loss: telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium.

The telogen effluvium is the most common type of hair loss in relation to medication. It takes around two to four months to fall out. The medication shortens the time that the hair follicles are in the resting phase and causes them to fall out too early. On average people already lose up to 100 hairs per day, so the increased hair loss can make a noticeable difference. In the anagen effluvium hair loss, the hair falls out during the growth phase of the hair cycle. It inhibits the hair cell’s ability to divide normally and this often occurs as soon as a few days to a few weeks after taking the medication. The amount of hair lost directly correlates to your sensitivity to the drug, the type of drug, and the dosage of the drug.

There are many different drugs that can slightly or drastically impact an individual’s hair loss. Hormonal supplements for female or male specific conditions, antidepressants, treatments for high cholesterol like the drugs Atronids or Lopid, and even drugs prescribed to treat thyroid disorders all are known to contribute to hair loss. For a more complete listing of the drugs that can cause hair loss, you can visit our website here. 

It’s important to be aware of what medications could be affecting your hair. If you are suffering from hair loss and are also taking one of these drugs, you may want to talk to your physician first. Afterwards you can visit New EnglandAssociates® for your free hair and scalp analysis to discuss what procedures or products can help you get your healthy hair back. We offer a wide range of surgical and non-surgical solutions like hair transplantation, Hair Grafting, laser therapy, and our exclusive HairStart® system. You can visit our website www.hairstart.com or call 1.866.HairStart for more information or to schedule your no-cost/no-obligation microscopic hair & scalp consultation today.

NEA is social. Find us on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/NEAHairStart

“Look as Good as You Feel!”

Call New England Associates® today. Make New England Associates® Your First Step To A Better Looking Future!

Since 1982 New England Associates® has known hair loss is as individual as you are. New England Associates® offers all of the procedures that work to repair, replace, restore, and grow hair. We are members of the American Hair Loss Council and the Better Business Bureau. Locations include Wakefield, MA and Manchester, NH. Our hair restoration options include hair and scalp treatments, non-medical hair replacement, laser hair therapy treatments, hair transplants and shampoos and vitamins for fine and thinning hair.

Disclaimer: Not all clients experience the same results. Call today to determine which procedures are best tailored to you.

See also:

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/drug-induced-hair-loss-2