Alopecia areata
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Alopecia Areata by LP-CLINIC
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease caused by the overactivity of the immune system, which attacks and destroys hair follicles.
A characteristic of this condition is the uneven thinning of hair, resulting in partial or complete loss of hair from the head or even the body in more severe cases.
Regarding the etiology of alopecia areata, various causes have been proposed, the main ones being the following:
- Genetic factors
- Psychological factors
- Immunological factors
- Endocrine factors
- Other factors
- Heterogeneity
Symptoms
Patchy hair loss: The problem often starts with one or more round, smooth, bare “patches” about the size of a dime. You’ll initially notice clumps of hair on your pillow or in the shower. The hair loss occurs primarily on the scalp. But it can involve the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard—any area that has hair. The gaps vary in size.
Exclamation mark hairs: Often, a few short hairs are present within or at the edges of the bald spots. These hairs taper at the bottom, like an exclamation mark.
Extensive hair loss: Over time, some patients become bald. Some lose all of their body hair, completely. This is not common. Also unusual is a patch of hair loss at the back of the scalp.
Nail problems: Alopecia areata can also affect the fingernails and toenails. They may develop small indentations (pits), white spots or lines, be rough, lose their shine, or become thin and break easily. Rarely, nails may change shape or fall out. Sometimes nail changes are the first or only sign of alopecia areata.
Treatment
There are various treatment approaches for alopecia areata. The hair often regrows on its own, in 80% of cases, and the disease reverses itself within two years.
- Corticosteroids: This medication suppresses the immune system. It can be given as an injection; a dermatologist injects the medication into the areas of hair loss. Sometimes, a patient takes a topical (applied to the skin) form of this medication. It can be a cream, lotion, or ointment. The patient applies the medication to the bald areas. Less commonly, patients take corticosteroid pills, in extremely extensive and sudden situations.
For adults with alopecia areata, subcutaneous injections are often the first treatment tried. Patients receive injections every 3 to 6 weeks. Hair growth begins about 4 weeks after the last injection. - Minoxidil: A hair regrowth medication, minoxidil 5% can help some patients regrow their hair. It is indicated for children and adults. It is applied twice a day to the scalp, eyebrows, or beard. New hair begins to grow in about 2 months. Patients usually use this medication along with other treatment.
- Finasteride: Finasteride is used to combat androgenetic alopecia in men only. It can achieve, like minoxidil, a reduction in the rate of hair loss and the creation of new hair. Unfortunately, finasteride does not have a permanent effect either, which stops when it is discontinued.
- Anthralin: This medication alters the skin's immune system. The patient applies a tar-like substance to the skin and leaves it on for 20 to 60 minutes. The treatment is short-term contact. After 20 to 60 minutes, the anthralin is washed off to avoid skin irritation.
- Local immunomodulatory treatment, using calcineurin antagonists. Local immunostimulatory treatment with chemical irritants, such as DNCP. Usually used in extensive clinical forms, due to the frequent visits and the irritation and sensitization it causes.
- Hair Transplantation, only in a stabilized state, where there is no inflammation, subject to vigilance of the disease.
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Mil Sta
«Η εμπειρία μου με τον Δρ. Παπανικολαου ήταν εξαιρετική απο την αρχή μεχρι το τελος. Ο γιατρος ειναι απολυτα επαγγελματίας και μου ενέπνευσε εμπιστοσυνη απο την πρωτη στιγμη. Είμαι πολύ ικανοποιημένος με την επιλογή μου και με το αποτέλεσμα. Συνιστώ ανεπιφύλακτα την LP Clinic και τον κ. Παπανικολάου σε όποιον ακόμα το σκέφτεται»
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chris klf
«Η κριτική γίνεται στους 8.5 μήνες μετά την επέμβαση και 10 μέρες πριν το ραντεβού για την τελική αξιολόγηση από τον γιατρό. Μιλάμε για έναν εξαιρετικό γιατρό, που θα σε καθοδηγήσει και καθησυχάσει σε κάθε βήμα της μεταμόσχευσης μαλλιών. Θα σου λύσει κάθε απορία όσο "χαζή" και να είναι. Θα σου πει ακριβώς πως θα νιώθεις κάθε μέρα μετά την επέμβαση και πως θα αντιμετωπίσεις την όποια φαγούρα ή ενόχληση νιώσεις. Πέρα από εξαιρετικός γιατρός, είναι και φοβερός άνθρωπος. Μέχρι και κιμαδοπιτάκι που είχε φτιάξει η κόρη του προσφέρθηκε να μου δώσει το πρωί της επέμβασης! Επειδή όταν πήγα να πάρω την πρώτη αγωγή για την επέμβαση, με ρώτησε αν είχα φάει πρωινό του είχα πει όχι, γιατί ήμουν αγχωμένος. Εάν ψάχνετε που να πάτε για να φτιάξετε το πρόβλημα που αντιμετωπίζετε με την τριχόπτωση, απροβλημάτιστα και κυρίως ανώδυνα, σας τον προτείνω με κλειστά τα μάτια.»
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George Binas
«Είμαι απόλυτα ευχαριστημένος.
Το περιβάλλον είναι πολύ φιλικό και οι συνεργάτες της LP Clinic μου έλυσαν όλες τις απορίες με λεπτομέρεια.
Η δουλειά που έγινε από τον Dr Παπανικολάου Λευτέρη ήταν εξαιρετική και το αποτέλεσμα ήταν καλύτερο από ότι περίμενα.
Δεν έχω λόγια.»