Many excellent new treatments are now available
Hair loss can have a significant impact on a person’s self-esteem. Thinning hair is a problem that many people face regardless of age, gender, or nationality. To fully understand what it means to experience hair loss, we must first understand the types of hair loss, their causes, and the treatments that can help combat or reverse the condition.
Hair loss can be a difficult and frustrating experience for many people, mainly when it is noticeable or affects one’s appearance. It is done.
Hair loss can make people lose self-confidence, lower self-consciousness, lower self-esteem, and affect emotional well-being. Yes, it can lead to depression and anxiety.
There are about 25 things that cause hair loss. Some are very common. Others are very rare.
The most important thing to do when experiencing hair loss is to see a board-certified dermatologist. determine whether Exactly It causes hair loss.
Different causes require different treatments, so you need to make sure your treatment is the right one. One of my professors in medical school said, “If you don’t know for sure what it is, you can’t treat it with certainty.
Today we will focus on alopecia areata, but let’s briefly discuss the five most common causes of hair loss.
1. Male pattern baldness
Also called male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness. Your genetics determine male pattern baldness. Treatment is usually a combination of topical minoxidil, oral finasteride, and other drugs.
2. Alopecia Areata
A disease in which the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles, causing patchy or complete hair loss. Treatments include topical steroids, injectable steroids, phototherapy (narrowband UVB phototherapy), and new and exciting FDA-approved drugs, as described here.
3. Telogenous alopecia
This type of hair loss occurs when the hair growth cycle is disrupted. Telogenous alopecia occurs during stress such as childbirth, surgery, car accidents, and the loss of a loved one. Treatment may include medication, hormone therapy, or a tincture of time to reduce inflammation. Telogenous alopecia also resolves naturally over time.
4. Hair loss due to chemotherapy
Also called anagen alopecia, it is a form of chemotherapy-induced hair loss.
5. Hair loss due to seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis hair loss is one of the most common types of hair loss seen in my clinic. The common term for seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp is dandruff. Hair loss due to seborrheic dermatitis often resembles a “dry, itchy scalp.” Learn more about dry, itchy scalp and how it affects hair loss below.
Let’s talk about alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that affects hair follicles, causing patches of sudden hair loss on the scalp, face, and other areas of the body. .
For whatever reason, your immune system gets confused and attacks your own hair and hair follicles, causing hair to fall out. The sudden loss of large circles or patches of hair loss can be devastating.
Great news: The FDA has approved a class of drugs called Jak inhibitors to treat alopecia areata.
Jak inhibitors are a class of drugs that block specific enzymatic activities (Jaks called Janus kinases). These enzymes are involved in signaling pathways that control various cellular functions, including inflammation.
By inhibiting these enzymes, Jak inhibitors can help reduce inflammation and promote normal hair growth in patients with alopecia areata. was doing.
Hair removal can be a devastating experience. Fortunately, there are very new and effective treatments for alopecia areata. Treatment is an oral drug called baricitinib (Olmiant). We had great success with his Olumiant. Most patients see results in 1-2 months.
If you are suffering from hair loss, don’t panic. There are many excellent new treatments for hair loss, including alopecia areata. The most important thing you can do is see a dermatologist to determine the cause. A treatment program can be developed to treat it.
Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, and Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of Biology at Carleton College. We also have a private practice called Crutchfield Dermatology in Eagan, Minnesota.
He holds an MD and MS in Molecular Biology,
Mayo Clinic Genomics. He was named one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black His Enterprise Magazine. Minnesota Medicine has recognized Dr. Crutchfield as one of his 100 most influential health care leaders in Minnesota.Dr. Crutchfield specializes in
He is of color and has been chosen by doctors and nurses as one of Minnesota’s leading dermatologists for the past 18 years.
He is the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wilde and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of the American and National Medical Associations and is president of the Minnesota Black Medical Association. You can reach him at CrutchfieldDermatology.com or by calling 651-209-3600.
