Alopecia Areata, also referred to as ‘localized alopecia’ is one kind of hair loss which is untraceable. Weirdly enough, recent research has indicated that Alopecia Areata is closely linked to tooth infections. This kind of baldness begins with bald patches and even sometimes on other parts of the body. This hair loss issue could occur in males and even females of various ages. According to experts, one out of every thousand people is affected by it.Recent research carried out by Antonia Cutando Soriano and José Antonio Gil Montoya, both hailing from the University of Granada’s Department of Stomatology states that if you observe hair loss of this nature, a dentist’s expert opinion is absolutely necessary. Ensure that the dentist examines your oral condition thoroughly before coming to a conclusion.Typical signs for Alopecia Areata are circular shaped bald patches on the scalp and even on your beard and eyebrows. This kind of hair loss could even mean losing your eyelashes.This particular hair loss does not completely damage the hair follicles, and you will notice the re-growth of hair in a few months. However, according to researchers, around 25 % of patients will notice a recurrence of hair loss.If you suffer from Alopecia Areata, then your hair is shaped almost like an exclamation mark, especially the hair surrounding the edges of the bald patch. The hair loss disease tends to weaken the hairs and thus they fall out rather easily. Other studies carried out on the impact of Alopecia Areata indicate that the development of the disease is quite unpredictable – with hair growing back in a matter of weeks in some cases, and others reporting further loss of hair on the body as well as the scalp.
‘Follicular Unit Extraction’ might not be the most common of terms, but it has proven to be a life saver to men suffering from hair loss issues. The term, which is really a more technical way of referring to a hair transplant, has fast become one of the most sought after cosmetic treatments with regards to hair loss.
Carrying out a hair transplant involves pulling out hair roots from the back area of the head, where hair growth is better, and transplanting it in front, where it is needed. The results are great, with most showing a full head of hair. The cost varies between how thick you want your new hair and the level of baldness you suffer from. In India, the cost of a hair transplant is anything between INR 50,000 to 150,000.
In Asian regions, especially in India, hair transplants are very popular. The demand is so much that one doctor who initially specialized in plastic surgery, went onto learn hair transplant procedures, and now has a very lucrative practice. With each procedure taking around 6-8 hours to complete, he takes on around 25 cases per month. He is so popular, that he has a waiting list of around three months. A majority of his clients are foreigners, he says.
Another Indian plastic surgeon commenting on the popularity of hair transplant procedures confirmed that most customers were either below the age of 35 or celebrities. He attributed this to the fact that older Asian men were comfortable with being bald and did not see it particularly necessary to reverse it in a bid to look younger.
For men who smoke, the chances of going bald are much higher than the non-smokers. Smoking has various side effects; however, the link between smoking and hair loss is not a well known fact.
Smoking does destroy hair follicles, it affects the manner in which hormones and blood circulates in the scalp and even increases estrogen production. Taiwanese researchers at the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital recently carried out a study on 740 persons between the ages of 40 and 92 years, in which they carefully studied the link between Androgenetic Alopecia [ALA], which is known more commonly as male pattern baldness and smoking. The study also looked into estimating the amount of Asian men affected by hair loss due to smoking.
The results of the study indicated that smoking did play a fairly big role in hair loss, ranging between moderate and severe levels. This was even more apparent in men who smoked 20 or more cigarettes per day. Comparing ethnicities, the danger of hair loss due to smoking was very much lower amongst Taiwanese males.
The study controlled factors such as family history and age, which brought out other factors which were fairly significant. They included the intensity of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day and a person’s current smoking status.
Men who exhibit very early signs of Androgenetic Alopecia or male pattern baldness should be clearly informed of the danger smoking could cause to their hair loss issue, so that they would be able to prevent hair loss to reach advanced stages.
Baldness is a widely researched topic and a fair number of people have studied and tried out various cures for it. The latest study into alopecia areata, has connected it with various genes, which paves the way forward for new and advanced treatments. Alopecia areata is a form of baldness which is very common. It causes hair thinning and eventually hair loss.
The study revealed that a few auto-immune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis had connected chromosomes to baldness. This new found knowledge could prove to be very useful towards developing new types of medication targeting hair loss, and perhaps even reversing it.
According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, pharmaceutical companies are yet to receive formal approval from the FDA to look into developing new treatments for hair loss - even though alopecia areata is a common auto-immune disease.
Both men and women are affected alike by alopecia areata, although studies show that women are more open about it with their doctors, as opposed to men. This leads to better diagnosis rates amongst women.
Baldness is otherwise cured by varied and sometimes untested and unsafe medication, hair transplants or even hair pieces. Most of these cures are far from being effective. Prescription drugs for baldness include Minoxidil and Finasteride, which is more commonly known as Propecia.
Minoxidil can be bought over the counter, and is a lotion which must be massaged into the scalp atleast twice a day. The downside of this treatment is that constant use is necessary for its effectiveness.
Propecia is a drug that stops Dihydrotestosterone from forming, which otherwise causes baldness in men.
As most people know, drug addiction can be described as the compulsive use of drugs to the point where the user cannot live for even a day without it. Doctors say that the brain develops an attachment to the drug that is taken regularly, and the part of the brain that is affected the most is which rules one’s activities such as social life, eating and exercise.
To call this unhealthy habit is not only clearly dangerous but can also be considered a matter of life and death. Family and loved ones are ignored, money gets spent and mostly one sense of health and hygiene goes down the drain with this deadly habit that has been developed over time.
In most cases, if one has to make a complete recovery, the only option is a drug rehab program that will not only help one recovery fully from the habit but also will help him find out as to what is the underlying issue to the addiction. And the latter can bring about some groundbreaking changes in one’s life.
Almost everything in one’s life changes with this realization, and once the root cause is identified and dealt with through group and individual therapy. An ideal drug and alcohol rehab center will be located in a secluded place, and this is where the patient can undergo treatment while being taken away from the environment that causes him to indulge in the habit.
Cirque Lodge is one such center that is accredited and has a proven track record in curing alcohol and drug addicts.
