ALOPECIA AREATA



Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas.

Alopecia Areata for Hamilton, Grimsby and Stoney Creek

General Information:

  • It is not caused by diet.
  • It is not caused by hair products (gel, mousse, perms).
  • It may be made worse by stress.
  • It is not an infection and not contagious.
  • It is not caused by a fungus.
  • It is not affected by shampoo.
  • It most commonly affects the scalp, but may also involve the eyelashes, eyebrows, beard or any area of skin that has hair.
  • The hair may re-grow spontaneously even if it is not treated.
  • Treating any one area does not prevent the hair form falling out in another area. There is no treatment available to prevent new areas from being affected.
  • The disease may continue for months or years.
  • The disease may appear in childhood, disappear, and then reappear decades later.

Treatment - General Information:

  • You can continue to wash, style, perm and colour your hair. These will not increase the rate of hair loss.
  • Wearing a hat or hairpiece will not hurt your hair or affect the hair loss.
  • Vitamins have NOT been shown to be helpful for this condition.

Treatment - Medical:

Topical Corticosteroids (Steroids, Cortisone):

  • Cortisone creams (topical corticosteroids), lotions and gels are moderately effective.
  • They are used twice daily on the bald areas until hair growth starts, then they can be stopped.
  • Topical corticosteroids must be used for at least a month to see if they are going to be effective.
  • The most common side effect would include, but not be limited to:  thinning of the skin in the area to which they are being applied.  This may appear as stretch marks, dimpling of the skin or bruising.

Diphencyprone (DPCP):

  • Is a chemical applied to the scalp which produces and allergic reaction and inflammation. 

  • In some cases this stimulates hair to grow. 

  • Rarely severe allergic reactions may occur. 
  • DPCP therapy is NOT available in my office.

Intralesional Steroids (Cortisone Injections):

  • Cortisone injections work much better than the creams, gels and lotions.
  • The cortisone is injected directly into the bald spot.
  • A bald spot about 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter would require about 8 injections.
  • The injections are repeated at monthly intervals.
  • The main side effect from the injections includes, but is not limited to: thinning of the skin, producing dimples in the scalp. 
  • The dimples will usually resolve spontaneously once treatment is stopped.

Prescriptions:

  • A variety of lotions and pills are available.
  • Talk to your doctor to discuss your treatment options.

To learn more about alopecia areata and support groups please click here.