ALOPECIA AREATA AND ITS SEVERE FORMS ARE CURABLE

Our medical program for hair growth restoration for Alopecia areata/totalis/universalis/ophiasis sufferers is the result of fundamental and clinical research started at the end of 1970. The resulting knowledge made way for reliable treatment for severe forms of Alopecia areata. First patients were cured in 1983 and in 1988 a specialized independent clinic was established. Thousands of patients have recovered their hair growth, got rid of accursed wigs and live a full life.

Everyone who suffers from this disease knows perfectly well how a small-sized bald patch turned into total scalp hair loss or total body hair loss in several months or even faster.

A single small-sized bald patch readily responds to treatment although relapse is possible, while severe forms of Alopecia require more patience and prolonged treatment. Severe forms of Alopecia areata are rare, and usually dermatologists will tell you that you must accept this condition and just cope with it, by wearing wig or hair piece.

Alopecia areata begins commonly as a small patch about an inch (~2,5 cm) across usually located anywhere on the scalp. However, I have repeatedly observed primary patches of hair loss on beard, eyebrows, eyelashes, pubis, body or extremities.

Usually a primary patch widens to a definite size. If the diameter of a patch does not exceed 3-4 inches (~8-10cm), the prognosis for the disease is favorable and hair could regrow very often without treatment. If the first patch is followed by new widening patches with subsequent hair loss of 2/3 of the scalp surface, then the process may result in complete hair loss in 50% of the cases. My practice argues the higher the emergence rate of new patches, the more probable is transformation of the disease into Alopecia totalis or Alopecia universalis.

The disease commonly manifests itself between the ages of 18-35. Unfortunately, Alopecia areata is encountered also in children. The youngest child with the disease I have observed was 6 months old. The most liable to this disease are children aged 5-7 and 12-14.

In my practice I have observed only two cases of Alopecia areata in one family. The first observation dealt with a gentleman who had total hair loss due to Alopecia universalis from 18 years and his son had Alopecia areata that arose at the age of 17. His son came to me with Alopecia totalis, which I successfully cured. Hair regrowth was successfully obtained. My second observation dealt with a woman of 40 years old, who suffered from Alopecia totalis since she was 21 years old and her daughter started the disease at 3 years old. The disease changed into totalis form of Alopecia areata within 3 months; however hair regrowth was successfull after treatment.

Alopecia areata may cause a profound alteration in the functional status of the patient. This is because of the fact that much of the public is still not familiar with Alopecia areata and its severe variants, and those who suffer from it have to deal with coworkers and associates who have no understanding about the condition. Hair loss may cross out many life prospects and not infrequently destroy families and careers especially for young persons. The disease thus represents a grave challenge to the patient. However Alopecia areata should be recognized as just another common medical condition, in the same way as diabetes for example, certainly not a condition that anyone should be made to feel ashamed or embarrassed of

Alopecia areata should be considered as a psychosomatic condition with multiple pathological factors. That's why there is no generally recognized approach for its therapy.

In 1986 we studied keratinocyte mitotic activity and distribution of epidermal cells throughout the cell cycle by laser flow cytometry. This investigation demonstrated that epidermal cell division is decreased in bald patches compared with the proliferation rate of the cells in neighboring unaffected areas. So the slowing down of division of epidermal cells (keratinocytes, skin cells) forces hair follicles to enter the resting (telogen) phase with subsequent hair loss in affected areas. This fact is one of the main links in the pathology of Alopecia areata and allows augmenting the treatment efficiently, especially for severe forms.

According to our 20 years experience, complete recovery of hair growth can be attained if the duration of the disease has not exceeded 10-12 years although we have a lot of successfully cured patients with duration of the disease for up to 20 years.

The treatment program consists of 5-day consecutive outpatient or inpatient treatments with a 70-120 day of at home self treatment interval. This program should be repeated at least three times. The number of treatments depends on how long you have had the disease and its severity (usually the program does not need repeating more than 6 times even for the most severe cases). The treatment should not be interrupted between in-patient periods. Between courses a patient takes prescribed therapy and medicines by himself. Patients from different countries have been successfully treated.

First hair (possibly with colorless ends) appears after the second or third course of the therapy. By the fourth course the length of the hair may reach 1-1.5inch (2.5-4cm), though the head is not always completely and evenly covered with hair at this stage. The recovery of hair growth on eyebrows and eyelashes needs special procedures.

I assure you that everyone who cooperated actively with my treatment of Alopecia areata fought his way out of this distressed condition with a full head of hair and has remained my good acquaintance for many years.

Vlad UNDRITZ, PhD, MD