Hair loss caused by alopecia areata occurs in patches. Sometimes these patches come and go away again. Other times they can grow, become more numerous and cost the sufferer most of their head hair. In extreme cases where all head hair is lost, the condition is referred to as alopecia totalis.
Thanks to advances in the hair tattoo process for alopecia sufferers, this is now an effective way to camouflage the symptoms. The exact requirements of each client are highly individual, however it ultimately comes down to two options:
- Treat the patches
- Treat the entire scalp
Both options have their advantages, however the more aggressive and unpredictable the condition, the greater the likelihood of a full head treatment being the best course of action. Both require the hair to be shaved, however if the alopecia symptoms go away, the client is free to grow their natural hair back, provided their frontal hairline is at least as far forward as their treatment area.
What causes alopecia areata?
In a number of cases, the onset of alopecia areata might point to an underlying health problem, however most of the time, alopecia areata happens on its own without being caused by something more serious. Recent studies have shed more light on this condition and now, we have more proof that alopecia can be triggered by physical trauma or stress. However, when it comes to losing hair due to a specific event, the pattern of baldness is different than the one experienced here. Considering physical factors, alopecia areata is absolutely harmless, but it can deal a huge blow into one’s self-esteem and it can then affect the quality of life and other mental factors.
Thus, it’s no surprise that a lot of people want to hide the effects of alopecia areata and those who have longer hair can actually become experts in this field. As women generally have longer hair than men, it can be easier for women to cover any patches. However, this kind of concealment is entirely dependent on the size and placement of each bald patch. Men are far less likely to be able to camouflage the issue like women. This is where other options are generally more suitable.
What are the traditional remedies for alopecia?
One option to deal with alopecia is injecting cortisone into the bald patches. This prevents further inflammation of the area so that hair follicles are not destroyed. However, this treatment is useful if the hair loss has not become too widespread so that there are still hair follicles remaining in the area. A similar drug-based option is minoxidil. This can become part of one’s treatment in order to improve the looks of the hair, but results are highly variable and do not often work satisfactorily.
Immunotherapy can also prove helpful. This method makes use of chemical irritants which are subsequently provided into the bald patches. Usually, diphencyprone is used and its dosage is increased over the weeks, until an allergic reaction begins. The skin then develops eczema and hair growth follows afterwards. It is unclear why this method works, but there are a number of cases in which it proved successful.
However, these traditional remedies are usually temporary solutions. This is why many people seek a more permanent solution.
How can hair tattooing help?
This is an entirely different approach. A hair tattoo does not attempt to cure alopecia areata. Instead, it camoflages its symptoms. Compared to other methods, hair tattooing is able to provide guaranteed results. Symptoms are not prevented, but they are absolutely concealed as long as the hair is kept shaved.
A hair tattoo can provide those suffering the effects of alopecia areata with much-needed self-esteem, to go on with their lives without worrying about hair loss. Moreover, because the full scalp of the individual is usually treated using this method, alopecia cannot affect the head in a visible way anymore: even if the patches become larger over time, they will still remain concealead under the treatment.
