Can I Prevent Pattern Alopecia from Getting Worse?

When faced with hair loss or alopecia areata, it can be tough to know what to do if you want to mitigate your hair loss. Is it possible to prevent alopecia from getting worse? Here’s what you need to know.

Avoid Unnecessary Hair or Scalp Trauma

This is one of the simplest ways to manage your alopecia and mitigate hair loss. The less trauma you cause to your scalp and hair, the more likely you are to keep it. Hair trauma can result from things like washing your hair too often, using chemicals or dyes to change your hair, or even using heat styling tools. It’s also important to be extremely gentle with your hair while it’s wet, as this is when most breakage can occur. In addition, try to avoid scalp trauma. This comes mostly in the form of using brushes with harsh bristles or brushing too hard. In addition, shampooing can contribute to scalp trauma. Too many shampoos in a row can dry out your scalp and leave it damaged. Finally, try to avoid hairstyles that pull too hard on your scalp. Ponytails, buns, and braids might be out of the picture for a little while if you want to minimize your hair loss and effectively manage your alopecia.

Try to Reduce Stress

Unfortunately, stress can be a big factor in hair loss. When stress levels are high, it’s more likely that you’ll lose hair. While alopecia isn’t specifically linked to stress, it’s more likely to flare up during times when you’re experiencing high levels of stress. If you notice that you’re stressed out, try to isolate what exactly is stressing you out so you can eliminate it. In addition, you can try practicing stress-relieving activities on a regular basis. Getting into meditation and practicing breathing exercises can help you cope with stress and might even help you reduce stress levels in the long run.

Invest in Corticosteroid Treatment

Ideally, the steps you take to prevent hair loss from worsening will be in conjunction with dermatological treatment. And one of the most common alopecia treatments is corticosteroids. This treatment is commonly used for autoimmune disorders like alopecia. They can be administered via injection into the scalp or via topical cream or foam. The goal of this treatment is to speed hair growth and help prevent hair loss in the future. Again, this treatment is administered in a medical setting, which means you won’t be able to access corticosteroids in an over-the-counter form.

Analyze Your Diet

In some cases, hair loss can be linked to nutrient deficiency. Before you start taking supplements to enhance hair growth, make sure you understand whether you’re getting too much or too little of certain nutrients. If you’re unsure if a nutrient deficiency is contributing to your hair loss, a blood test can help you determine what nutrients you may need more of in your diet. Make sure you understand this information before taking any supplements. In some cases, too much of one nutrient or mineral may make your hair loss worse.

Hair loss can take a toll on your stress levels and your self confidence, which means it’s important to know your treatment options. If you want to know more about how to mitigate your hair loss, set up a consultation with a member of our team at SE Dermatology Specialists today.