What are the Treatments for Alopecia Totalis?
Alopecia totalis, or alopecia areata totalis, refers to the complete loss of hair from the scalp and affects 5 percent of all hair loss patients. It is an autoimmune disorder. The hair follicles remain alive, but the immune system’s white blood cells attack them, preventing hair growth. Since the follicles stay alive, alopecia areata totalis may resolve without medical intervention; hair growth may resume on its own. Hair loss treatments for alopecia focus on removing the immune system’s interference, prompting follicles to resume normal hair production. Medications established for treating other conditions, steroids and topical irritants produce mixed results.
