Circular hair loss

Circular hair loss, or also called alopecia areata, is to be understood as hair loss in the form of oval or round herds. This mainly affects the scalp. One or more hairless areas are formed. Herdrand is often characterized by short, broken hairs, which become thinner and thinner towards the scalp. Their appearance is referred to here as "exclamation point hair". The hairless areas can also extend to other hairy body parts, in the worst case they occur all over the body.

The hair loss begins suddenly and affects mainly young men and children. In Germany, about one million people are affected. Alopecia areata is an inflammatory hair disorder in which, fortunately, the hair follicles are preserved and only their fiber formation is suppressed. Thus, it is a disorder of hair growth, and not a disorder of hair formation, whereby a spontaneous healing is possible at any time. In addition, some affected persons additionally experience changes in the nails, so-called spotted nails.

contents

• causes
• Physical illness and stress
• Hormone changes and medications
• Symptoms of circular hair loss
• course
• School medical measures
• Naturopathy in circular hair loss

causes

The causes of the circular hair loss are not yet fully understood. According to the current state of research, a genetic disposition is assumed. It is also believed that a disorder of the immune system can be the cause of hair loss. T-lymphocytes, which normally recognize intruders, are immune to the body's own, meaning they do not recognize their own hair follicles as their own, but as foreign. This results in an inflammatory reaction that leads to a disorder of hair growth and subsequently to hair loss.

Circular hair loss can occur in several places in the head at the same time. (Image: Tomy / fotolia.com)

About 30 percent of those affected are allergy sufferers. In these patients, there is an increased allergy readiness, they therefore often suffer from atopic dermatitis, hay fever, food allergy and asthma.

Physical illness and stress

Various diseases such as disorders of thyroid function (e.g., hyperthyroidism), chronic inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and polymyalgia rheumatica (inflammatory rheumatic diseases with muscle pain at various sites) are considered to cause hair loss.

The hair loss can be caused among other things by negative stress, crises or mental stress. (Image: Korta / fotolia.com)

Often, the psyche plays a big role. So it comes with massive internal tension, stress, personal loss, fears or depression heaped to circular hair loss. Especially with children, it was found that after the loss of a person very close to them suddenly got round bald patches on the scalp. A trauma or a mental shock can trigger a sudden loss of hair.

Hormone changes and medications

The hormonal changes in pregnancy are also a possible trigger. Hormonal imbalances can generally cause a sudden loss of hair. Furthermore, local injuries of the scalp as well as the intake of medications such as antidepressants and lipid-lowering drugs are considered as causes.

Symptoms of circular hair loss

The manifestations of the circular hair loss can be very different. Usually, the disease begins with a hairless stove of one to two centimeters in diameter. In addition, itching may occur. Mostly only the scalp is affected. Hair loss is limited to one or two places on the scalp in about three quarters of those affected. Others suffer from more infestations with several hairless flocks, which can also confluence.

The hair loss can be different. Partly the whole head becomes bald, less often the hair is affected all over. (Image: Family Business / fotolia.com)

Occasionally, the alopecia areata is also in a diffuse hair loss (alopecia diffusa), which is limited to individual sites. A special form is expressed in the loss of eyebrows or eyelashes. If the head hair is completely exhausted, it is called Alopecia totalis. If the whole body is affected, doctors speak of alopecia universalis. In about one quarter of those affected so-called "spotted nails" are observed. These are dimple-shaped recesses on the nail plate, which are actually a typical accompanying symptom of psoriasis (psoriasis).

course

The circular hair loss can be completely spontaneous and completely gone after a few months. For other people, however, it continues to evolve over years. It is possible that the previously bald spots are at first completely covered with hair and then suddenly turn out in batches.

When hair grows back, they are at first unpigmented and thin, but later get a completely normal structure. The circular hair loss is no danger and is not contagious, yet it often has an extremely stressful on the psyche of those affected.

School medical measures

Once the cause of alopecia areata has been clarified, a causal therapy takes place, ie the underlying disease, such as hypothyroidism, is treated. The easier the extent of the disease, the easier the treatment. Here, for example, the oil of the croton oil tree (croton oil) is used, which has an irritating effect on the skin. Other treatment options include immunomodulation drugs and immunosuppressants.

Naturopathy in circular hair loss

In natural medicine, the human being is considered as a whole. Accordingly, here is a holistic treatment in the foreground. An attempt is made to get to the root cause of circular hair loss and treat it causally.

An imbalance in the acid-base balance can lead to hair loss. To counteract hyperacidity, a healthy, balanced diet is recommended that contains many basic foods and is low in animal protein (present in meat, sausage fish and dairy products). Almonds, tomatoes, lamb's lettuce, mushrooms (mushrooms, chanterelles, porcini mushrooms, etc.), potatoes, apples and berries are particularly rich in base.

A disturbed intestinal flora can promote hair loss. Remedy here creates a professionally guided intestinal rehabilitation. (Image: Christos Georghiou / fotolia.com)

An imbalance in the gut may be involved in the emergence of circular hair loss. Since about 70 percent of the immune cells in the intestine are formed, it can happen that a dysbalance of the physiological bacteria in the intestine leads to hair loss. In order to remedy this, it is important that those affected rebuild their intestinal flora.

Prerequisite for this is a thorough cleaning of the intestine, in which it is initially freed from harmful residues. Used here are various home remedies for natural colon cleansing such as psyllium husks, bitter plants or healing earth. Once the intestine has been cleansed, the actual bowel rehabilitation follows. For these, various methods such as e.g. the intake of lactobacilli and coli bacteria. Building a healthy intestinal flora takes four to six weeks and should only be done under the guidance of an experienced naturopath.

In people who are very nervous and plagued by fears, in naturopathy is trying to build with the affected a suitable stress management. Various techniques have been proven to reduce stress such as autogenic training, breathing exercises or yoga. In addition, medicinal plants such as passionflower, St. John's wort, valerian, melissa and hops can provide more inner peace and balance.

In many cases, the Bach flower therapy is helpful, in which the appropriate flowers are individually selected depending on the symptoms. Substitution with supplements (such as vitamin B complex, zinc and iron) is also often used successfully in conjunction with other naturopathic therapies.

Before starting with a natural therapy for the circular hair loss, a discharge and detoxification is indicated. The body is stimulated by herbs, Schuessler salts or homeopathy to bring accumulated slag to the outside. (sw, nr, last updated on 9.12.2016)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)