What is Alopecia?
Alopecia, which causes baldness, is thought to be an auto-immune disorder, with the immune system (the body's defence system) turning on itself. According to Marilyn Sherlock, chairman of the Institute of Trichologists, there are different types of Alopecia with different patterns of hair loss and the disorder has been linked with stress.
What are the symptoms of Alopeica?
Typically one or more small bald patches about the size of a quarter develop on the scalp. The hair can start to regrow at one site, while another bald patch develops. Hair may also begin to thin all over the head.
Do the symptoms of Alopecia get worse over time?
According to Marilyn Sherlock there is no way to tell if the symptoms will continue to get worse. In some cases, people will lose all their scalp hair ( known as Alopecia Totalis) and in rare cases they may lose all their body hair (known as Alopecia Universalis). The hair loss can be sudden and dramatic or it can slowly occur over a period of weeks and even months.
What causes Alopecia?
For an unknown reason the body's immune system begins to attack its own hair follicles (where your hair grows from). White blood cells known as T-lymphocytes cause the hair to stop growing. The hair enters into a resting phase and then falls out. The follicles, however, often remain active and may start to produce new hair shafts over time.
Can worry and stress make Alopecia worse?
Stress has been shown to prolong the problem but it has not been proven to be the cause. People, particularly image conscious women, often experience extreme anxiety about their condition which can make the symptoms worse creating a vicious cycle.
Are there other symptoms apart from baldness?
Occasionally the scalp may become sore or sensitive and some people complain that it feels as if their "scalp is bruised". There is no itching, scaling or soreness and the skin on the scalp even looks healthy. Often fingernails may be affected and can look pitted and ridged. Bare patches on eyebrows and beards may also appear.
Is Alopecia an inherited condition?
There is strong evidence to suggest that alopecia, like other auto-immune diseases, runs in families. About 25 per cent of patients with Alopecia have a family history of the disorder. There is usually a trigger, however, that will bring the disorder on. Triggers that have been identified include stress, sudden shock and even thyroid gland malfunction.
Who does Alopecia affect?
Alopecia usually affects teenagers and young adults, but it can affect people of any age and affects both men and women. Seniors and children as young as two years of age have been diagnosed with alopecia.
What about breast-feeding mothers with Alopecia?
Women who have recently given birth have reported excessive hair loss although this has not been confirmed to be alopecia and usually goes away in time. During pregnancy hormones prolong the growing cycle and excessive shedding afterwards is simply the loss of this hormonal protection.
Is there a cure for Alopecia?
There is no known cure, although there are various treatments which may be effective for some people. It is frustrating to the medical profession because it is near to impossible for doctors to give their patients accurate prognosis. Some people may have all their hair grow back with no treatment at all and others may have total hair loss for the rest of their lives. The more prominent the case of hair loss the less likely it is to be reversed. The majority of sufferers, however, do experience some re-growth over time.
Is there an effective treatment for Alopecia?
Doctors often prescribe corticosteroid creams or lotions which are topically applied to the bald area(s). Retin A cream may help to reverse the problem and Dithranol
(a tar-like ointment) discourages the overgrowth of the outer layer of skin cells. For more severe cases, doctors may recommend steroid injections or even
immunosuppressive drugs which lowers the body's normal immune response, however, this can lead to a lowered resistance to infection and is prescribed with
caution.
Will zinc supplements work to cure Alopecia?
Some studies show that zinc supplements when taken orally may have a beneficial effect by helping to moderate the immune system. However, very high doses are needed and this coarse of treatment must be closely watched. Unpleasant side effects include vomiting and diarrhea may occur in conjunction with zinc supplements.
Do hair re-growth products like Rogaine help grow back one's hair?
Topical Minoxidil solution, marketed as Rogaine, can be useful for some patients with mild Alopecia however it is not effective for people with a severe case.
Is Alopecia life-threatening?
While the condition is embarrassing and inconvenient, it is not dangerous. It can, however, be extremely traumatic and many patients are often humiliated by insensitive joking and teasing.
Will Alopecia recur?
Many people suffer a single episode of alopecia and never have the problem again. Others will have regular episodes throughout their lives. It is estimated that in approximately 20 per cent of cases in the U.S. will recur or become permanent.
Alopecia, which causes baldness, is thought to be an auto-immune disorder, with the immune system (the body's defence system) turning on itself. According to Marilyn Sherlock, chairman of the Institute of Trichologists, there are different types of Alopecia with different patterns of hair loss and the disorder has been linked with stress.
What are the symptoms of Alopeica?
Typically one or more small bald patches about the size of a quarter develop on the scalp. The hair can start to regrow at one site, while another bald patch develops. Hair may also begin to thin all over the head.
Do the symptoms of Alopecia get worse over time?
According to Marilyn Sherlock there is no way to tell if the symptoms will continue to get worse. In some cases, people will lose all their scalp hair ( known as Alopecia Totalis) and in rare cases they may lose all their body hair (known as Alopecia Universalis). The hair loss can be sudden and dramatic or it can slowly occur over a period of weeks and even months.
What causes Alopecia?
For an unknown reason the body's immune system begins to attack its own hair follicles (where your hair grows from). White blood cells known as T-lymphocytes cause the hair to stop growing. The hair enters into a resting phase and then falls out. The follicles, however, often remain active and may start to produce new hair shafts over time.
Can worry and stress make Alopecia worse?
Stress has been shown to prolong the problem but it has not been proven to be the cause. People, particularly image conscious women, often experience extreme anxiety about their condition which can make the symptoms worse creating a vicious cycle.
Are there other symptoms apart from baldness?
Occasionally the scalp may become sore or sensitive and some people complain that it feels as if their "scalp is bruised". There is no itching, scaling or soreness and the skin on the scalp even looks healthy. Often fingernails may be affected and can look pitted and ridged. Bare patches on eyebrows and beards may also appear.
Is Alopecia an inherited condition?
There is strong evidence to suggest that alopecia, like other auto-immune diseases, runs in families. About 25 per cent of patients with Alopecia have a family history of the disorder. There is usually a trigger, however, that will bring the disorder on. Triggers that have been identified include stress, sudden shock and even thyroid gland malfunction.
Who does Alopecia affect?
Alopecia usually affects teenagers and young adults, but it can affect people of any age and affects both men and women. Seniors and children as young as two years of age have been diagnosed with alopecia.
What about breast-feeding mothers with Alopecia?
Women who have recently given birth have reported excessive hair loss although this has not been confirmed to be alopecia and usually goes away in time. During pregnancy hormones prolong the growing cycle and excessive shedding afterwards is simply the loss of this hormonal protection.
Is there a cure for Alopecia?
There is no known cure, although there are various treatments which may be effective for some people. It is frustrating to the medical profession because it is near to impossible for doctors to give their patients accurate prognosis. Some people may have all their hair grow back with no treatment at all and others may have total hair loss for the rest of their lives. The more prominent the case of hair loss the less likely it is to be reversed. The majority of sufferers, however, do experience some re-growth over time.
Is there an effective treatment for Alopecia?
Doctors often prescribe corticosteroid creams or lotions which are topically applied to the bald area(s). Retin A cream may help to reverse the problem and Dithranol
(a tar-like ointment) discourages the overgrowth of the outer layer of skin cells. For more severe cases, doctors may recommend steroid injections or even
immunosuppressive drugs which lowers the body's normal immune response, however, this can lead to a lowered resistance to infection and is prescribed with
caution.
Will zinc supplements work to cure Alopecia?
Some studies show that zinc supplements when taken orally may have a beneficial effect by helping to moderate the immune system. However, very high doses are needed and this coarse of treatment must be closely watched. Unpleasant side effects include vomiting and diarrhea may occur in conjunction with zinc supplements.
Do hair re-growth products like Rogaine help grow back one's hair?
Topical Minoxidil solution, marketed as Rogaine, can be useful for some patients with mild Alopecia however it is not effective for people with a severe case.
Is Alopecia life-threatening?
While the condition is embarrassing and inconvenient, it is not dangerous. It can, however, be extremely traumatic and many patients are often humiliated by insensitive joking and teasing.
Will Alopecia recur?
Many people suffer a single episode of alopecia and never have the problem again. Others will have regular episodes throughout their lives. It is estimated that in approximately 20 per cent of cases in the U.S. will recur or become permanent.
Jana Morris, C.E.O., Owner
1559 Pheasant Ridge Drive Paradise, CA 95969
1.530.876.9308
Info@EternalHair.com
Copyright Protected Eternal Hair 2008-2009
1559 Pheasant Ridge Drive Paradise, CA 95969
1.530.876.9308
Info@EternalHair.com
Copyright Protected Eternal Hair 2008-2009
Trichotillomania, an irresistible urge to pull out your hair, and Alopecia, the loss of hair (especially on the head) are medical disorders rapidly on the rise. Some of the common causes of these devastating conditions are:
Genetic Thinning: Hair loss attributed to genetic factors and can often be patchy with particular severity in one or two areas of the head.
Alopecia: Loss of hair due to heredity, hormonal imbalance, some diseases or certain drugs and treatments such as chemotherapy.
Drugs and Surgery: Can be from drug side-effects, brain surgery recovery, cancer treatments, cosmetic surgery, etc.
Trichotillomania: Damage or loss caused by compulsive hair-pulling and twisting, with increased severity during times of emotional stress
Chemical Damage: Often caused by home coloring, perms or over-use of chemicals. Can also be caused by the use of relaxants in Afro-Caribbean hair.
Accidental Damage: Including burns, malicious assault, trauma etc.
Living with :bald spots" on your head is a devastating experience and can have a severely negative impact on one's life. Most individuals suffer with acute depression, have suicidal tendencies and feel hopeless. *Since most HMOs and insurance companies consider treatment for Trichotillomania or Alopecia as "cosmetic procedures" and deny authorization for payment the majority of individuals are forced to seek methods of treatment on their own. This, of course, is costly and often is an ongoing procedure that, over time, can cost a fortune. Eternal Hair extensions, combined with the Eternal Hair Natural Part, is an effective hair integration alternative that can easily and affordably disguise all manners of hair loss problems. This non-surgical, tried, tested and proven method has been used by hundreds of women and men everywhere. You can have a full head of hair that looks, feels and behaves just like your own hair.
Your Medical Insurance May Pay For Your Hair Products
If you have been diagnosed with either Trichotillomania or Alopecia (or both) and have tried prescribed medications and creams with no success you may be able to get your health insurance to cover treatment costs, including hair integration and hair extensions. If you have medical insurance check your benefits for all covered expenses under your plan. There should be a section under covered expenses that relates to prostheses, prosthetic devices or medical durable equipment. If there is covered benefits for these items then complete an insurance form (which can be obtained through your insurance company or from your doctor) and have it signed by your physician. Include a prescription for a full cranial prosthesis (not "hair extensions" or "wigs") and ask your doctor to write a letter stating that your hair loss condition has a severe impact on both your medical and psychological well being and that the medical treatment you have undergone has had no effect. Be sure the letter states that this is NOT a cosmetic treatment.
Find Out How To Appeal Your Medical Insurance Denial
If your insurance then denies authorization for payment for your medically prescribed treatment plan then you may be able to get all monies you have spent on treatment for your disorder retroactively reimbursed and future treatments covered and paid through your insurance company benefit plan by filing an appeal. Though Trichotillomania and Alopecia are substantiated medical conditions most insurance companies and HMOs automatically deny payment for treatment of these disorder stating it is a "cosmetic procedure". Appealing the denial to your insurance is your best action to take and, with persistence and a little know-how you may be able to get financial help in resolving and/or treating your disorder. To find out How to Appeal Insurance Denials for Trichotillomania and Alopecia click here.
Genetic Thinning: Hair loss attributed to genetic factors and can often be patchy with particular severity in one or two areas of the head.
Alopecia: Loss of hair due to heredity, hormonal imbalance, some diseases or certain drugs and treatments such as chemotherapy.
Drugs and Surgery: Can be from drug side-effects, brain surgery recovery, cancer treatments, cosmetic surgery, etc.
Trichotillomania: Damage or loss caused by compulsive hair-pulling and twisting, with increased severity during times of emotional stress
Chemical Damage: Often caused by home coloring, perms or over-use of chemicals. Can also be caused by the use of relaxants in Afro-Caribbean hair.
Accidental Damage: Including burns, malicious assault, trauma etc.
Living with :bald spots" on your head is a devastating experience and can have a severely negative impact on one's life. Most individuals suffer with acute depression, have suicidal tendencies and feel hopeless. *Since most HMOs and insurance companies consider treatment for Trichotillomania or Alopecia as "cosmetic procedures" and deny authorization for payment the majority of individuals are forced to seek methods of treatment on their own. This, of course, is costly and often is an ongoing procedure that, over time, can cost a fortune. Eternal Hair extensions, combined with the Eternal Hair Natural Part, is an effective hair integration alternative that can easily and affordably disguise all manners of hair loss problems. This non-surgical, tried, tested and proven method has been used by hundreds of women and men everywhere. You can have a full head of hair that looks, feels and behaves just like your own hair.
Your Medical Insurance May Pay For Your Hair Products
If you have been diagnosed with either Trichotillomania or Alopecia (or both) and have tried prescribed medications and creams with no success you may be able to get your health insurance to cover treatment costs, including hair integration and hair extensions. If you have medical insurance check your benefits for all covered expenses under your plan. There should be a section under covered expenses that relates to prostheses, prosthetic devices or medical durable equipment. If there is covered benefits for these items then complete an insurance form (which can be obtained through your insurance company or from your doctor) and have it signed by your physician. Include a prescription for a full cranial prosthesis (not "hair extensions" or "wigs") and ask your doctor to write a letter stating that your hair loss condition has a severe impact on both your medical and psychological well being and that the medical treatment you have undergone has had no effect. Be sure the letter states that this is NOT a cosmetic treatment.
Find Out How To Appeal Your Medical Insurance Denial
If your insurance then denies authorization for payment for your medically prescribed treatment plan then you may be able to get all monies you have spent on treatment for your disorder retroactively reimbursed and future treatments covered and paid through your insurance company benefit plan by filing an appeal. Though Trichotillomania and Alopecia are substantiated medical conditions most insurance companies and HMOs automatically deny payment for treatment of these disorder stating it is a "cosmetic procedure". Appealing the denial to your insurance is your best action to take and, with persistence and a little know-how you may be able to get financial help in resolving and/or treating your disorder. To find out How to Appeal Insurance Denials for Trichotillomania and Alopecia click here.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |