Alopecia, simply put, means hair loss. It may be what we consider the normal hair thinning that occurs with age, temporary hair loss that results from certain hair styles, or chronic hair loss that occurs all over the body.
Often, alopecia is one of many autoimmune diseases. That means that body’s natural immune system thinks that hair follicles are harming the body, so it attacks and kills them, leading to hair loss.
Unfortunately, there is no single treatment for alopecia. Some people who lose hair do find that their hair grows back over time, but for many people alopecia causes permanent hair loss, which can be very upsetting.
However, there are some excellent ways of dealing with alopecia, including wearing a wig. In fact, modern technology in the design and construction of wigs has improved so much that they are extremely popular nowadays, even among people who don’t havany hair loss at all!
In this blog we look at the causes of alopecia, and the steps you can take to regain your confidence, despite sudden hair loss.
The Causes of Alopecia
As an autoimmune disease, research behind the causes of alopecia remains inconclusive, however it is believed that both genetic and environmental factors play a part. Whilst more common amongst children and young adults, alopecia can affect anyone of any age, at any time.
Other potential causes of alopecia include:
- Thyroid disease
- Asthma
- Psoriasis
- Tight hairstyles
- Hormonal imbalances
- Anxiety
Male vs Female Causes
Whilst alopecia affects both men and women, it is more common in men. Male pattern baldness, otherwise known as androgentic alopecia, is triggered by genetics. So, if balding runs in the family, you’re more likely to have it too. In fact, around 25% of men under the age of 30 have experienced hair loss, whilst 50% of men over the age of 50 experience male pattern baldness.
But why do men lose their hair more than women? During puberty, our body releases androgens (a type of reproductive hormone), such as testosterone. With hormone levels at a higher level in men than women, one hormone, dihydrotestosterone, triggers male pattern baldness. However, there are many other factors which are also believed to cause alopecia, where history of balding may not be present in the family.
Types of Alopecia
There are many different kinds of alopecia, with some more severe than others. The most common types of alopecia are:
Alopecia areata universalis:
This is the most common type of alopecia, also known as 'female pattern baldness' and 'male pattern baldness', with approximately 2 in every 1000 people in the UK developing alopecia areata. Often this type of alopecia occurs when a person has a thyroid disorder or diabetes. Alopecia areata affects the scalp, where it can cause coin-sized bald patches.
Alopecia totalis:
This is a more severe type of hair loss that involves losing hair from the scalp.
Alopecia universalis:
This is the most severe type of alopecia. People with alopecia universalis lose all the hair on their body. This even includes their eyebrows and eyelashes.
Traction alopecia:
This type of alopecia is the result of a genetic predisposition to the condition, combined with certain types of hair styles, such as tight ponytails, that can pull on the hair and cause hair loss over time. As long as they take the right steps, people with traction alopecia or more patchy hair loss, can often grow their hair back through making the necessary lifestyle changes and sometimes medical treatments.
How to Deal with Alopecia
There is no single cure for alopecia but there are things that you can do to strengthen your hair and stimulate hair growth. What you eat has a big effect on the quality and quantity of your hair. Make sure that you eat a high protein diet since this is what hair is primarily made up of. Red meat, eggs, and healthy fats like coconut oil are fantastic things to add your diet to keep your hair healthy. A high protein diet that includes healthy fat may also help manage the autoimmune response that is causing the alopecia. This is partly because autoimmune reactions of this kind can often be triggered by food allergies to things like wheat or gluten.
If you are experiencing alopecia, you should also take an iron supplement. Millions of people, especially women, have an iron deficiency in their systems and don’t even know it. Getting enough iron is critically important to keeping your hair healthy and encouraging it to grow. If you feel that you’re cold all the time, or if you get tired very easily, it’s possible that you have an iron deficiency. Your doctor can perform blood tests to determine if you are anaemic, in which case iron supplements in combination with vitamin C could prove very helpful to improving how you feel and how your hair grows.
Choose the Right Products
You can also apply coconut oil directly to your hair to help strengthen it and promote new hair growth. Coconut oil has essential fatty acids and nutrients that will help keep the scalp healthy and support hair growth. Applying unprocessed coconut oil to your scalp will also help get rid of any build-up of toxins or dead cells that might be stopping your hair from growing.
Changing your hair products can also help. Look for shampoos and conditioners that are sulphate-free and made for people with thinning hair or alopecia. Harsh shampoos and hair products can make alopecia worse, and while you can still colour your hair if you have alopecia, you should talk to a stylist about what dyes are safe for you to use. Harsh bleaches and dyes with ammonia can irritate your scalp and make any hair falls worse.
Wigs for Alopecia Hair Loss
While in the process of dealing with hair loss, it’s important to keep positive, active and stress-free. You should also keep looking and feeling your most confident! There are dozens of different wig styles, colours, forms and brands out there. Today’s human hair wigs look so natural that it’s often impossible to tell them from your own hair. Here’s everything you need to know about real human hair wigs.
Alternatively, some people prefer to opt for a synthetic wig for hair loss, for a lower maintenance, ready-to-wear solution. Discover our top 5 synthetic wigs for alopecia.
While it can be intimidating to go and choose a wig for the first time, there’s plenty of information about – and thousands of others who have gone before you. Once you feel more comfortable with the wig buying process you might even enjoy the chance to explore new hair styles, new hair colours, and the ability to change your look as often as you change your outfit!
Don’t be embarrassed about having alopecia or choosing to wear a wig because of hair loss. You can still look and feel great, and enjoy a style that expresses your individuality.
Take a look at how some of our customers have regained their confidence through wearing wigs for alopecia hair loss.
