Alopecia Areata treatment

Alopecia Areata treatment

Alopecia areata is hair loss of unknown cause, characterized by round patches of complete baldness.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of alopecia areata is roundish patches of hair loss on the head, with smooth, hairless scalp in the affected areas. Alopecia totalis involves the complete loss of all scalp hair, and alopecia universalis is characterized by the complete loss of all scalp and body hair.

Hairs that look like exclamation points are sometime seen at the edges of a bald patch.

Treatment

No fully effective treatments are available. Typical therapy includes:

  • Topical corticosteroids (medium to very high potency)
  • Subcutaneous (under the skin surface) steroid injection
  • Ultraviolet light therapy

Irritating agents may be applied to hairless areas to promote regrowt