You first heard the word "alopecia" when you went to the dermatologist worried about your hair loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or perhaps you yourself searched the internet trying to understand why you're losing hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then you came across this medical term that seems complicated and scary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alopecia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It sounds like a serious, mysterious, unsolvable disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the truth is that alopecia is simply the technical term in medicine for any type of hair loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It's like a generic name for a huge category that includes many different types of hair loss, each with its own causes, patterns, and treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understanding what type of alopecia you have is absolutely fundamental because it completely changes the way you treat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What works for one type may not work, or may even worsen, for another type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That's why doctors spend so much time examining your scalp, asking questions about when it started, what the hair loss is like, and if there are any other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are trying to identify exactly which category of alopecia you fall into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And when you understand your specific type, you stop feeling lost in the dark and gain the power to make informed decisions about your treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let's completely demystify this subject, explaining the main types of alopecia in a way that anyone can understand, and most importantly, showing what can actually be done in each case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the most common type of hair loss in both men and women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In men, it's the classic baldness with receding hairlines and a bald crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In women, it manifests differently, with a progressive thinning mainly at the top of the head, while maintaining the frontal hairline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The word "androgenetic" comes from "androgen" (hormones like testosterone) and "genetics" (hereditary).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is because this condition involves both your genes and the action of hormones on the hair follicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It works like this: you inherit genes from your parents that make some follicles on your scalp sensitive to androgen hormones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When these hormones interact with sensitive follicles, they cause the follicles to shrink progressively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With each new growth cycle, the follicle gets a little smaller and produces a slightly thinner and shorter hair strand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, the hairs become smaller and smaller until they are almost invisible, like baby down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This type of alopecia is progressive, meaning it tends to worsen over time if left untreated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It usually starts in one's 20s or 30s, but it can begin at any age, and gradually worsens in the following decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In women, it usually accelerates after menopause when estrogen levels drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Available treatments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Topical minoxidil is the most established and accessible treatment, available in pharmacies in concentrations of 2 or 5 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You apply the solution or foam directly to the scalp twice a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It works by stimulating growth and prolonging the growth phase of the hair strands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Results appear after 4 to 6 months of continuous use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you stop using it, the benefits are lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oral finasteride is an approved medication for men that blocks the conversion of testosterone into DHT, the most potent androgen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In women, it can only be used after menopause due to risks to the fetus in case of pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oral spironolactone is an antiandrogen used in women, usually in combination with contraceptives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It blocks the action of androgens in tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oral dutasteride is similar to finasteride but more potent, used in selected cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Low-intensity laser therapy, using special helmets or caps that emit red light, stimulates hair growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Microneedling of the scalp creates micro-lesions that stimulate growth and increase the absorption of topical treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hair transplantation is a surgical option where follicles from donor areas are transplanted to bald or thinning areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It works well but it's expensive and invasive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This type is completely different from androgenetic alopecia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body's defense system, which should attack invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly begins attacking its own hair follicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The immune system incorrectly identifies the follicles as a threat and sends defense cells to attack them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This causes intense inflammation around the follicles, making the hair fall out quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The characteristic pattern consists of circular or oval bald patches completely devoid of hair, with well-defined edges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bald patches appear suddenly; you don't notice gradual thinning, you simply discover an area without hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It could be a single small flaw the size of a coin, or it could be multiple flaws spread out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In more severe cases, it can progress to total alopecia (loss of all hair on the scalp) or universal alopecia (loss of all body hair).<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one knows exactly why the immune system initiates this attack, but there is a genetic component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About 20 percent of people with alopecia areata have a family member with the same condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stress can be a trigger in predisposed individuals, but it is not the root cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alopecia areata is unpredictable; it can regress spontaneously with hair growing back on its own, it can remain stable, or it can progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Available treatments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Injectable corticosteroids applied directly to the affected areas are a first-line treatment for localized hair loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Monthly injections may stimulate regrowth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Topical corticosteroids in high-potency creams or lotions applied to hairless areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Less effective than injections, but an option for those who cannot tolerate needles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oral corticosteroids are used in more extensive cases, but prolonged use has significant side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Topical minoxidil may help accelerate regrowth when used in conjunction with corticosteroids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anthralin, a substance that causes mild scalp irritation, sometimes stimulates growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Topical immunotherapy with substances such as diphencyprone, which cause a controlled allergic reaction to "distract" the immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Used in extensive cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n JAK inhibitors, a new class of oral medications that block pathways in the immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baricitinib and ritlecitinib have shown promising results in recent studies and have been approved for severe alopecia areata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phototherapy with ultraviolet light can help in some cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This type is extremely common and usually temporary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This occurs when a much larger number of follicles than normal simultaneously enter the resting phase of the hair cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About two to three months later, all of these hairs fall out at the same time, causing intense diffuse hair loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Telogen effluvium is always reactive, meaning it is a response to some stressful event or situation for the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Common triggers include childbirth, major surgeries, prolonged high fevers, severe infections, extreme emotional stress, very restrictive diets, rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, certain medications, and hormonal changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hair loss is diffuse throughout the scalp, not concentrated in specific areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don't develop thinning or bald patches, but the overall volume decreases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that this type usually resolves itself within three to six months after the triggering cause is removed or resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The follicles are not permanently damaged, so new hair grows normally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Available treatments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The primary treatment is to identify and correct the underlying cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If it was an iron deficiency, supplement with iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If it was stress, manage the stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If it was medication, discuss alternatives with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ensure adequate nutrition with sufficient protein, vitamins, and minerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vitamin supplementation if deficiencies are confirmed by tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Topical minoxidil can be used temporarily to speed up recovery, but it is not essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be patient, because recovery takes time even after the cause is corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This group of alopecias is more serious because it involves permanent destruction of the hair follicles, which are replaced by scar tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the follicle is destroyed, it can no longer produce hair, and the loss is irreversible in that area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several different types of scarring alopecia, caused by chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, infections, or dermatological conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lichen planus pilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, and folliculitis decalvans are some examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are usually accompanied by symptoms such as burning, itching, redness, flaking, or pain in the scalp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The affected areas become smooth, shiny, with no visible follicle openings because the follicles have been destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This type requires early diagnosis and treatment to prevent progression, because what has been lost cannot be recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Available treatments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal is to stop the progression and preserve the remaining follicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Topical or injectable corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oral immunosuppressant medications such as hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, or mycophenolate may be used in more aggressive cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Antibiotics if there is an infectious component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Topical retinoids in some types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hair transplantation can only be considered after the disease has been completely inactive for at least one year, in order to restore already scarred areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This type occurs when the hair is repeatedly pulled forcefully for extended periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Very tight hairstyles such as pulled-back braids, tight buns, very tight ponytails, heavy hair extensions, poorly placed extensions, all cause constant traction on the hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time, this repeated tension damages the follicles, especially along the hairline and temples where the skin is thinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Initially, the hair loss is reversible if you stop doing the problematic hairstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if it continues for years, it can cause permanent damage to the follicles, resulting in irreversible loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Available treatments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important thing is to immediately stop hairstyles that cause pulling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wear your hair loose or in loose hairstyles that don't pull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid heavy hair extensions and hairpieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Topical minoxidil may help stimulate regrowth in affected areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If scarring has already occurred, a hair transplant may be necessary to restore the affected areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike telogen effluvium, where hairs enter a resting phase and then fall out, anagen effluvium occurs when hairs are damaged during the active growth phase and fall out rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is less common and is usually caused by severe damage to the follicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most well-known cause is chemotherapy for cancer treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chemotherapy drugs attack rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells but also cells in hair follicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This results in rapid and diffuse hair loss, often almost complete, during treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Radiation to the scalp, heavy metal poisoning, or severe autoimmune diseases can also cause it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Available treatments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In cases of chemotherapy, cooling the scalp during infusions can help preserve some hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But usually the hair loss happens and the treatment is to wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that when chemotherapy ends, the follicles recover and the hair grows back, although sometimes with a different texture initially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minoxidil can be used after chemotherapy to accelerate regrowth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After learning about all these different types, it becomes clear why you can't simply start any treatment without knowing exactly what type of alopecia you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using minoxidil for alopecia areata may help a little, but it doesn't solve the problem because it's not treating the underlying immunological cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using corticosteroids for androgenetic alopecia won't work because the cause is hormonal and genetic, not inflammatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treating telogen effluvium as if it were androgenetic alopecia with hormonal medications is a waste because it will resolve itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, a proper medical evaluation is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A dermatologist specializing in hair will examine your scalp, ask detailed questions about when it started, how it progressed, what symptoms you have, and your family and medical history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can have a trichoscopy, which is an examination of the scalp using magnifying equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can order blood tests to check hormones, nutrients, and thyroid function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In doubtful cases, a scalp biopsy can be performed for microscopic analysis to confirm the diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the correct diagnosis in hand, you can follow the appropriate treatment for your specific type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here's what you need to know, very honestly, about treatments for alopecia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no miracle cure that will make all lost hair grow back overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatments take months to show results, usually between four and six months at a minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many treatments need to be maintained continuously; if you stop, the benefits are lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responses vary greatly from person to person; what works wonderfully for one person may not work so well for another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sooner you start treatment, the better the results, because it's easier to preserve what you have than to recover what has already been lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But even with all these caveats, the treatments really do work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thousands of people experience significant improvement with the right treatments for their specific conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The important thing is to have realistic expectations, patience to allow time for treatments, and persistence to maintain them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your hair deserves this chance, and you deserve to feel good about yourself.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are several types of alopecia with different causes and treatments. Find out which one you have and choose the right treatment.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":9439,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-saude"],"yoast_head":"\nAlopecia Areata: When the Immune System Attacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Telogen Effluvium: The Temporary Hair Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Scarring Alopecia: The Kind That Destroys Hair Follicles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Traction Alopecia: Caused by Yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Anagen Effluvium: Hair Loss During Growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Importance of Correct Diagnosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Truth About Treatments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n