Circular Hair loss causes a clearly visible and uneven hair loss in those affected. Both the external appearance and the psyche suffer. The bald patches are difficult to conceal and often accompany men or women for months. Symptoms are atypical for the type of hair loss, because the scalp itself is spared from inflammation.
Definition circular hair loss
The medical term for circular hair loss is alopecia areata. Behind it hides a inflammatory disease of the Hair roots and thus also of the hair follicles, which leads to patchy loss of the head or beard hair. In addition, eyebrows or the rest of the body hair can also be affected. In extreme cases, the patient loses all hair. The disease occurs in all sexes of all ages; even children can be affected by hair loss. Alopecia areata is not accompanied by itching, scaling or inflamed skin. The bald spot therefore looks as if it is perfectly healthy - only the hair is missing. Characteristic for the symptom picture of circular hair loss are the circular spots, at the edge of which the hairs are broken off and very short. After six to twelve months, new hairs sprout and the spots disappear. However, the episodic disease and break out again.
Only a doctor, at best a dermatologist, can determine for sure whether a hair loss is alopecia areata. During the examination, the dermatologist examines the pores of the hairless area as well as the skin, nails and lymph nodes of the patient in order to gain an overall impression.
Causes of hair loss
Unfortunately, so far nt is not known what underlies the circular hair loss. In medicine, there are some theses in the room that point to a autoimmune reaction of the body ...of the hair follicles. This means that the immune system turns for its own body and attacks the hair roots. Whether this is an autoimmune disease has not yet been confirmed. However, the assumption is obvious, as some sufferers also suffer from other autoimmune diseases, such as neurodermatitis. In addition, the genetic predisposition an important factor. In some families, cases of this type of hair loss accumulate. Another connection doctors see with psychogenic causes such as stress or in exceptional emotional situations.
Treatment options for circular hair loss
Treatment of circular hair loss may be limited only to the symptoms due to the unclear cause. This means that the growth of the hair should be stimulated. In order to achieve the goal of reactivated hair growth, there are various possibilities, which are either local or systemic ...to start. Every therapy should start with a Doctor The treatment should be discussed and weighed up with the patient in order to keep risks and side effects as low as possible. There are various possibilities to treat the circular hair loss:
- Cortisone therapy
- skin-irritant substances
- Immunotherapy
- alternative treatments
Cortisone therapy
Cortisone can be applied locally to the thinning areas to suppress the autoimmune response and thus give the hair or beard an opportunity to grow. For this purpose, it is either applied or injected under the skin. It can also be taken as a tablet. It should be borne in mind that the condition may recur if the therapy is stopped. In addition, the Side effects not to be underestimated.
Skin irritants
In individual cases, the application and exposure to skin-irritating substances, for example anthralin, chrysarobin or a pepper tincture, can lead to renewed hair growth. However, this procedure is rather experimental. If the desired success is not achieved, the treatment should be discontinued.
Topical immunotherapy with diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP)
If the foci of loss are particularly large, therapy with DPCP has proven effective. The bald spot is locally covered with the substance in the hope that the body of the affected person will react with inflammation, which in the long term will cause a allergic reaction on the surface of the skin. The new inflammation is supposed to be fought by other immune cells than the ones causing the hair loss. The latter are displaced by the activation of the anti-inflammatory immune cells and the hair begins to grow. This form of treatment is spread over several months and the newly growing hairs are usually white. Only later there is storage of color pigments. In addition, during the treatment with DPCP a relapse possible and the risk of side effects is high, which is why only a doctor with experience in this field should treat.
Alternative treatment options
With minor side effects is a Treatment with zinc or turmeric associated. Turmeric, or more precisely the curcumin contained in it, has an anti-inflammatory effect, which can be helpful in the case of autoimmune hair root inflammation. The trace element zinc is of great importance for hair and skin. The intake of zinc or turmeric is neither medically proven nor analysed in studies have been reported. However, there are small studies that investigate the effect of curcumin and the anti-inflammatory property confirm. In addition, reports are accumulating from those affected who have taken this path and can report personal successes. The body should be supported in helping itself. Besides a healthy Nutrition and sufficient exercise, he needs nutrients and trace elements for this, which may have been insufficiently covered by the diet.
Forecast
Men and women are equally affected by circular hair loss. The episodic erythema can already occur in childhood. A reliable Diagnosis can only a doctor pose. An autoimmune reaction is suspected as the origin, but this has not yet been clinically confirmed. Likewise Stressors, emotional exceptional situations and the genetic predisposition for the Alopecia is responsible for this. Circular, diffuse spots in the hair can therefore also be hereditary be. In most cases, the hair grows back after a year at the latest, so that before a hair transplant other variants. If you still want to do something, you can try different therapies in consultation with a doctor, which are either local or systemic.
FAQ - Questions and answers
Where does circular hair loss come from?
The exact cause of circular hair loss is unfortunately not yet known. However, it is assumed that genetic predispositions and autoimmune reactions cannot be ruled out.
In which places does circular hair loss occur?
This type of hair loss most often occurs on the head and beard hair. However, other hairy areas of the body can also be affected.
What should be examined for circular hair loss?
If there are signs of circular hair loss, the thyroid gland should be examined and a general blood count should be done.
