Alopecia Areata Treatment in San Diego, CA
What is Alopecia Areata?
The term alopecia means hair loss, but when one is diagnosed with a medical condition associated with alopecia, it can be grouped into three main types: alopecia areata (hair loss in patches on the scalp), alopecia totalis (lose all hair on the head), alopecia universalis (lose all hair on the body).
Because alopecia is an autoimmune disease, your immune system essentially attacks healthy hair follicles by mistake. This can happen in a very short period of time, even just a few days.
Struggling with hair loss? The board-certified dermatologists at Del Mar M.E.D. specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of alopecia. Call (858) 755-6647 to schedule a consultation at our San Diego dermatology clinic today.
Symptoms of Alopecia Areata
The symptoms of alopecia will depend on the type and location it has affected. However, some common symptoms include:
- Hair loss in patches: This is most common in alopecia areata, and may begin with small, quarter-sized, smooth patches. This will often come on quickly and become recognized after seeing hair in the shower or your bed. This can happen in a number of spots on your body, but most often occurs on the head and face areas.
- Splitting and thinning fingernails and toenails
- White spots on fingernails and toenails
- Rigid or bumpy fingernails and toenails
- Random white hairs, mostly in patches
- Exclamation mark hairs: These are hairs that grow around the bald spots, but get narrower at the bottom.
Treatment of Alopecia Areata
There is no specific cure for alopecia currently, but there are a number of treatment options that may help grow hair quicker. The most commonly used treatment option is corticosteroids, which can be given by your dermatologist via a shot or applied via a topical ointment, cream, or lotion.
There are other medications like Minoxidil (for hair growth), Anthralin (for immune function of the skin), and Diphencyprone (inflammation fighter) that may help with some of the other symptoms. Often these solutions will need multiple doses in order to be effective.
You may need to have some blood work done as well.
If you are experiencing alopecia, it’s important to take other forms of protection, such as sunblock, ointment inside the nose, and headwear and sunglasses to protect your skin from the sun.
Schedule an Alopecia Areata Consultation in San Diego, CA
If you’re experiencing hair thinning or sudden hair loss, don’t wait. The experienced team at Del Mar M.E.D. is here to help you understand the cause and find the right treatment. Call (858) 755-6647 or request an appointment at our San Diego clinic today.