Alopecia areata can occur at any age, but is more common in young adults, with no significant difference in incidence between the sexes. The lesions appear as round or oval non-scarring alopecia, and “exclamation point”-like hairs are often seen at the edges of the baldness. Total or almost total hair loss is called alopecia areata. If all the hair on the body (including body hair) is lost, it is called alopecia universalis. Creeping alopecia is also seen. There is no abnormality in the skin of the affected area other than the absence of hair.
Most cases of alopecia areata have a tendency to heal spontaneously, but a few cases occur repeatedly, so treatment is difficult. However, there are many therapies that can be combined to treat alopecia areata.
1. Topical medication (1) Minoxidil 5% minoxidil cream or solvent, applied 1 or 2 times a day, may be related to its vasodilator effect.
(2) Anthralin 0.5% to 1% anthralin ointment or cream, is a primary stimulant. It is applied externally 1 to several times a day, to the extent that it causes mild local skin dermatitis.
(3) Contact sensitizer diphenylcyclopropenone (DCP) is most commonly used.
(4) glucocorticoids strong hormone topical or sealing package. 0.05% dexamethasone, 50% dimethyl sulfoxide solution for external use often has better efficacy than creams, etc.
2, internal medicine (1) glucocorticoid prednisone internal, a few weeks after the gradual reduction, and then a small dose of maintenance for 6 months. Glucocorticosteroids are effective, but they have many side effects and are prone to relapse after discontinuation, so they are not used as conventional therapy. However, for acute baldness, it can be tried in order to avoid the development of total baldness or general baldness.
(2) Cyclosporine is effective for 6 to 12 months. In some cases, it is effective, but if there is no effect after 4 months, it can be stopped.
(3) Intramuscular injection of thymopentin for 3 weeks.
(4) Vasodilator nicotinic acid is given orally.
(3) Local injection method Local injection of glucocorticoids is suitable for a small range of hair loss, or important cosmetic areas (such as eyebrows) in patients with alopecia areata. It can be injected directly into the hair loss area, or into its peripheral part, in order to control the continued expansion of the hair loss. Attention should be paid to avoid local skin atrophy and depression that may be caused.
4.Neural closure therapy The occipital nerve is closed and the skin temperature of its innervation area rises after the nerve is closed, which is conducive to hair regeneration.