Alopecia Specialist

What causes alopecia?

Because alopecia is an autoimmune disease, your body winds up mistakenly attacking your hair follicles. This causes hair to die and shed, which is why you start experiencing thinning hair and even bald spots in advanced stages. If you have alopecia, any of the following factors may be to blame:

• Vitamin D deficiency 
• Certain cancer treatments
• Family history of alopecia
• Personal history of hay fever, eczema, or thyroid disease

Alopecia can affect anyone, but your risk is slightly higher if you have darker skin or are Hispanic.

What are the symptoms of alopecia?

Alopecia is most commonly associated with hair loss on your scalp. In reality, though, you can experience unwanted hair loss anywhere on your body, including your eyebrows. Alopecia happens with no obvious warning – no rash, redness, or itching. But you may notice several of the following issues: 

• Bald patches in your beard area (for men)
• Bald patches on your scalp
• Red or brittle nails 
• Loss of eyelashes 
• Bands of hair loss
• Thinning hair  

It’s important to know that follicle damage from alopecia is rarely permanent. With the help of West Derm Center dermatologists, you can undergo customized treatments to regrow your natural hair.

How does a dermatologist treat alopecia?

Your dermatologist examines your skin and may order some labs to get to the root of your hair loss. After any necessary diagnostic testing, your dermatologist talks with you about treatment options. Your hair restoration plan might include:

• Corticosteroid injections
• Topical minoxidil 
• Topical anthralin 

West Derm Center also creates custom hair loss kits with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) using the Eclipse PRP® system. This treatment involves coming into the office for a quick blood draw. Your dermatologist processes your blood on the spot to extract platelets and growth factors.

The final solution is your PRP, which your dermatologist injects into bald spots or areas that have thinning hair. PRP stimulates blood flow to the area, so follicles receive the nutrients and oxygen they need to thrive and regrow over time. Several PRP treatments are necessary to achieve optimal results. 

West Derm Center provides personalized alopecia hair loss treatments to restore your normal hair growth. Find out more information by booking a consultation online or by phone with the clinic nearest you. 

*Individual results may vary.