Alopecia Awareness Month September 2021
September is a month dedicated to spreading knowledge, support and advice about alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, that leads to your immune system mistakenly attacking your hair follicles leading to hair loss. The hair loss is patchy and can occur all over the body. The hair may regrow in time, but in some cases it may cause long term or permanent hair loss in affected areas.
It is estimated alopecia areata affects 1 in 750 adults in the UK, so it really is more common than most would think, although it is worth noting severity of individual cases will vary.
While a loss of hair on the head is the most obvious sign of alopecia, the condition can also cause changes to your nails or hair on other parts of your body aside from your head. Common signs of alopecia areata are:
Circle type patches of hair loss on scalp or face
Banded hair loss on the sides and back of scalp
Loss of eyelashes or eyebrows
Hair loss of this type can affect hair on all parts of the body
Genetic factors can come into play in developing alopecia areata and family history of autoimmune diseases increases the risk of it developing. There is a misconception that stress causes alopecia areata, however there is no real scientific evidence behind this suggestion. Extreme cases of stress could potentially trigger the condition, but most recent research points towards a genetic cause.
Whilst there is no known cure for alopecia areata, at MHR Belfast we have treatments that can help with the symptoms and appearance of alopecia.
In many cases the hair loss stemming from alopecia is not permanent. For this, a course of Laser Hair Therapy with specific medications may help to speed up regrowth. In more extreme cases of alopecia where hair loss is long term to permanent, we offer Hair Fusion where we can cover hair loss spots with real hair patches, which can be seamlessly blended into your existing hair. Our Experts will be able to advise which course of treatment is suitable for each type of alopecia areata. We will also work in conjunction with advice from your GP.
Our MHR Belfast Experts are on hand with advice and support for anyone experiencing alopecia. We understand that it isn’t just the physical aspect of alopecia that affects individuals, but also the emotional and mental sides can also take their toll. We have extensive experience in dealing with clients who have developed alopecia.
For additional support, we highly recommend the advice and support from Alopecia UK (Northern Ireland group).