Alopecia areata is a kind of non-scarring hair loss, which often occurs on the parts of the body with hair, with normal local skin and no conscious symptoms.
1, No obvious conscious symptoms suddenly found round or coin-shaped hair loss, clear edges, smooth, shiny skin on the head of the bald area, no significant atrophy.
2. It occurs mostly on the scalp, but can also occur on the eyebrows, beard, axillae or pubic area. The course of the disease is long and easy to recur.
3.Patchy and limited hair loss is called spot baldness, and hair loss that expands to the whole head is called total baldness. Hair loss all over the body is called general baldness.
Etiology of baldness.
1, mental factors: mental trauma, mental tension, work and study stress, worries, insomnia, etc.
2. Genetic factors: 10% to 20% of cases have a family history of baldness.
3, Allergic factors: Those with genetic allergic dermatitis, eczema or asthma have a higher chance of developing baldness.
4. Autoimmune factors: The rate of those with some autoimmune diseases is higher than that of the normal population.
Pathological changes of baldness.
1, Early perifollicular and follicular bulb lymphocytic infiltration, inflammatory cells may invade the hair matrix and follicular wall causing cell degeneration.
2. In the late stage, the inflammatory cell infiltration around the hair follicle decreases, and the hair follicle, hair bulb and its dermal papillae atrophy, become smaller and shift upward. There is thrombosis and vascular occlusion in the surrounding microvessels, and the hair is nutritionally blocked. The number of hair follicles is significantly reduced.
Chinese medical evidence.
1, irritable mind, seven emotions are not sparse, depression for a long time into fire, heat and wind.
2, excessive fatigue, liver and kidney deficiency, lack of qi and blood.
Differential diagnosis.
Should be differentiated from the following diseases that commonly cause hair loss.
1, tinea capitis Prevalent in children, hair loss is mostly uneven broken hair, hair loss area often has scales, papules, pustules, crusts, scars. The fungus can be detected in the hair or in the scales and crusts.
3.Pseudobulbar baldness The scalp at the hair loss area is atrophied, depressed, smooth, and without follicle opening.
4.Syphilis baldness Hair loss is incomplete and often worm-like, but it can also be patchy, often with multiple hair loss, preferably on the back side of the scalp. It can be accompanied by syphilis lesions on other skin areas and positive syphilis serology tests.
5.scarring baldness Previously, the scalp had folliculitis, boils, ringworm, or scalp trauma that destroyed the hair follicles.
6.Scleroderma confined to the scalp Stripes with atrophy and hardening of the skin.
7.Male pattern baldness Commonly known as top loss, mostly in young and middle-aged men, with family tendency. Hair loss from the top of the head, mostly from the forehead on both sides of the hairline began to gradually expand upward, the hair also gradually become thin and slender,. The speed, scope and severity of hair loss are influenced by genetics and individuals.
8, drug-related hair loss, such as anti-cancer chemotherapy drugs, retinoids, etc.
Prevention and control of baldness.
1.Labor and rest, avoid excessive sadness and mental tension, and regulate sleep.
2.Eating and nutrition. Pay attention to the nutritional balance of the diet, and do not be partial to food. Take in foods that are good for hair nutrition, such as walnuts, black sesame, fish, kelp, seaweed, etc.
3, quit smoking Active or passive smoking will make the scalp capillary constriction, affecting hair growth.
4, local treatment There are many methods of medication, such as anti-inflammatory, stimulate hair growth, improve blood circulation, etc.. They should be used under the guidance of doctors. For example, the dermatology department of China-Japan Friendship Hospital has made its own topical preparation of Chinese medicine “hair growth tincture”, which has the function of activating blood and nourishing blood and stimulating hair growth.
For severe and stubborn baldness, you need to apply Chinese medicine under the guidance of a doctor for dialectical treatment.