Alopecia and Hair loss Treatment in Omaha
Alopecia—the medical term for hair loss—is one of the most common disorders that dermatologists treat. In fact, hereditary alopecia is the most common type of hair loss and affects an estimated 80 million men and women. If you’ve noticed thinning hair, you’re not alone—and the sooner you seek treatment, the better results you will see. At MOD Dermatology, we offer effective and personalized alopecia treatment, helping you get to the root of your hair loss and find the best prevention or treatment method for you. Call our scalp and hair experts at our Omaha office today at 402-505-8777 to schedule your appointment!
What is Alopecia?
Alopecia, or hair loss, is a multifaceted and complex issue that encompasses many different conditions of varying severity. Some types of hair loss are permanent and can cause scarring, while others are temporary or may wax and wane. Other types of non-scarring hair loss include alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, and others. Scarring, or cicatricial alopecia, can include discoid lupus, lichen planopilaris, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, folliculitis decalvans, and others.
What Causes Alopecia
There are many causes of hair loss ranging from too-tight of hairstyles to autoimmune diseases to genetics. With such a wide variety of causes, it is important to have a dermatologist determine why you are experiencing hair loss, as the only way to properly treat alopecia is to determine its root cause.
The main causes of alopecia include:
- Emotional stress
- Physical stress
- Autoimmune disease
- Medications
- Infections
- Inflammatory diseases
- Hormones
- Certain types of hairstyling
- Other causes
Clinical Examinations And Hair Loss Treatments In Omaha
Clinical examination of the scalp, hair, and oftentimes a skin biopsy are necessary to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. Given the many different types and causes of alopecia, there are a multitude of different treatments for hair loss. Hair loss treatments in Omaha can include local and systemic steroids, minoxidil, immune modulators, hormonal treatments, antimicrobials and more. Dr. Ortleb has extensive training in the evaluation and treatment of hair loss and hair conditions.
Call 402-505-8777 to schedule a visit with any of our providers.
Alopecia FAQs
Yes. It’s normal to lose between 50-100 hairs a day as your body grows new hair and sheds the old. However, thinning hair, bald spots, and a receding hairline are signs of alopecia and should be examined by a dermatologist.
Hair loss can appear suddenly or gradually. Sudden hair loss can show as clumps of hair falling out while you brush your hair or bald patches appearing within days. Gradual hair loss can show early signs such as a widening part, thinner ponytail, or a slow-growing bald spot. Alopecia can also occur on your scalp or other areas of your body, including eyebrows, eyelashes, and beard. Symptoms that can be associated with alopecia can include burning or stinging before sudden hair loss, scaly bald patches, and redness or sores.
Both men and women can develop hereditary hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia. Hereditary hair loss occurs because one inherits genes that cause hair follicles to shrink and stop growing hair over time. With that said, not all hair loss is hereditary.
Alopecia areata, one of many forms of hair loss, is an autoimmune disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your hair follicles. As a result, hair follicles shrink and slow or stop hair growth. Not all forms of alopecia are autoimmune diseases.
There are treatment options to help stop, slow, and reverse certain types of hair loss. However, not all alopecia treatment and prevention methods are the same. For example, alopecia areata treatment can help stimulate the regrowth of lost hair. Hair loss due to damaging hair care, on the other hand, can’t always be treated as hair cannot regrow from a damaged hair follicle.