Coping With Alopecia Areata

You should remember when coping with a disease such as Alopecia areata that you should value yourself for who you are inside rather than the amount of hair that you have either on your head or on your body.

Many people learn to cope with alopecia areata surprisingly well and often find it of great value to share their problems with those who are experiencing similar problems.

Millions of people suffer from this disease at some point in their lives, so it is important to remember that you are not alone.   

You may find it easier to cope with the disease if you minimise its physical effects. Those with total hair loss may wish to wear a wig or a hairpiece.

They come in all shapes and styles, often so sophisticated that they look natural and stylish. Small patches of hair loss can be concealed using a hair coloured cream or powder applied to the scalp.

This will make the hair loss look a lot less obvious by hiding the contrast between the hair and the scalp.

An eyebrow pencil can be applied to a missing eyebrow to give a more natural look. 

Bandanas and caps are preferred by children who have alopecia. There are many different styles that are available.

Some children may look odd in a wig, and sometimes it is better to not bother with a hairpiece at all for some children.

Children love bright colors; they also like to be special. Combining the two often distracts them from the worry of their hair loss. 

Scarves, jewelry and clothing can be worn by women wanting to hide patchy hair loss as they distract attention from those hair patches.

Well applied make-up can hide the loss of facial hair. Your doctor or support group may be able to recommend a cosmetologist, who specialises in working with people whose appearances have been affected by these types of medical conditions for advice and tips.  

Although a cure for alopecia areata in not imminent, scientists understand the disease much better than they used to.

There is hope that an increased understanding will help better treatments become available and perhaps eventually, even a cure for the condition.  

Research for alopecia ranges from very basic studies of hair growth and hair loss mechanisms to testing medications in an attempt to assist hair re-growth. 

Some examples or research includes the development in an animal model, which is a big step towards understanding the disease and the progress that has so far been made.

By developing an animal, such as a mouse with the disease that is similar to the human form of alopecia, scientists hope to extend their knowledge about the mechanisms into the disease to assist them in developing treatments for humans.  

Scientists are also studying the genetic causes and mechanisms of alopecia areata in those families who have one or more persons who are suffering the disease.

If an understanding into the genetics or alopecia area is achieved, prevention and early intervention may follow.