How Does Dr.Tanreet Diagnose Alopecia Areata?
A board-certified dermatologist like Dr. Tanreet’s can often diagnose alopecia areata by carefully examining the areas with hair loss and your nails.
To get a closer look, Dr. Tanreet’s may use a tool called a dermatoscope, which magnifies and provides a better view of what’s happening.
Dr. Tanreet’s will also inquire about your health and any diseases that close blood relatives have. Be sure to inform Dr. Tanreet’s if a blood relative has alopecia areata.
Sometimes, Dr. Tanreet’s will need to remove a few hairs or perform a biopsy of the bald area. In a biopsy, a small amount of skin is removed to be examined under a microscope.
You may also need a blood test to check for thyroid disease and ensure you have healthy levels of iron and vitamins.
Once Dr. Tanreet’s has all the necessary information, you’ll find out if you have alopecia areata. If you do, Dr. Tanreet’s will discuss how the disease is affecting your life and whether treatment is recommended.
How Does Dr. Tanreet Treat Alopecia Areata?
It’s important to know that no one treatment works for everyone, and treatment is not always recommended.
Dr. Tanreet’s will determine what’s best for you based on:
- How much hair you’ve lost
- How long you’ve had hair loss
- Where you’ve lost hair
- Your age (children may require different treatment)
Based on these and other considerations, here’s what a treatment plan may look like:
How Does Dr. Tanreet Treat Nail Changes Caused by Alopecia Areata?
Dr Tanreet’s skin centre is equipped with best lasers like CO2 laser resurfacing for fungal nail infections and nail changes in alopecia areata
For adults, Dr. Tanreet’s may prescribe medications like a corticosteroid or tazarotene applied to the nails, corticosteroid injections, or short-term corticosteroid pills. For children, Dr. Tanreet’s may recommend waiting to see if nail changes improve on their own.
Options for Hiding Hair Loss
There are plenty of options for covering up hair loss, and patients often ask about these options because:
- Treatment takes time.
- Some people want to avoid the possible side effects of treatment.
- Treatment isn’t working, or their hair continues to fall out after treatment.
Options for hiding hair loss include styling products like gels, mousses, powders, and sprays, wigs, hairpieces, scalp prostheses, shaving, artificial eyelashes, eyebrow powder, artificial eyebrows, and microblading for eyebrows.
One or two bald spots that have been there for less than one year:
Dr. Tanreet’s may recommend a wait-and-see approach, as many people, especially children, regrow their hair without treatment. Regrowth can be slow, and some people do not see the regrowth they expect. If you’re unhappy with the regrowth, Dr. Tanreet’s may prescribe medication to apply to the areas needing more regrowth, such as a corticosteroid to regrow your hair and minoxidil (Rogaine®) to keep the regrown hair.
Children 10 years old and younger:
- Hair may regrow without treatment. If treatment is needed, Dr. Tanreet’s may recommend prescription-strength corticosteroids applied to the bald spots once or twice a day. Minoxidil may also be used to help keep the regrown hair. For older children with extensive hair loss, contact immunotherapy or a JAK inhibitor approved for patients 12 years and older may be prescribed.
Patchy hair loss:
- For adults and children older than 10 years, Dr. Tanreet’s may recommend injections of corticosteroids, which involve injecting the medication directly into the spots with hair loss. This is considered the most effective treatment for people with a few patches of hair loss. Other treatments may include corticosteroids applied to the bald spots, anthralin, or minoxidil.
Extensive hair loss:
- For widespread hair loss, Dr. Tanreet’s may recommend contact immunotherapy, which involves weekly treatments at the dermatologist’s office. JAK inhibitors like baricitinib or ritlecitinib, approved by the FDA, may also be prescribed. Other oral medications like prednisone, methotrexate, or cyclosporine , jak inhibitors may be considered.
Loss of eyelashes:
- Dr. Tanreet’s may include treatments like artificial eyelashes, glasses, bimatoprost, or a JAK inhibitor in your treatment plan.
Loss of eyebrows:
- Dr. Tanreet’s may recommend intralesional corticosteroids, a JAK inhibitor, artificial eyebrows, or microblading.
Outcome for Someone with Alopecia Areata
For many people, their hair regrows on its own without treatment, especially when they have a few patches of alopecia areata that have been there for less than a year. Hair loss can stop for long periods or come and go. Sometimes, hair doesn’t regrow. With so much uncertainty, it can be helpful to see a board-certified dermatologist like Dr. Tanreet’s, who can evaluate your situation and recommend a course of action.
Most people with alopecia areata are otherwise healthy. However, some may be at risk for other autoimmune diseases, so it’s important to keep appointments with Dr. Tanreet.