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The extracts of the aloe vera plant have a complex set of chemicals with the ability to suppress and stimulate the immune system in a number of ways. There are reports of clinical trials, of varying quality, suggesting that aloe vera has a positive effect on wound healing, immune stimulation, aalso aginast cancerc and in the treatment of various viral conditions. There is also a recent report of its effectiveness in the treatment of psoriasis.
Anthralin is available as a greasy ointment (Anthraderm) and also as a non-greasy vanishing cream (Dritbo, Lasan). Whether drithocreme or micanol (types of anthralin) are more effective, if at all, is unclear to me. Studies show anthralin works from 0-82% of the time! It is applied to the bare patches once daily and washed off after a short time, usually 30-60 minutes later. If new hair growth occurs, it is seen in eight to twelve weeks.
According to Mosby's diagnostic and laboratory test reference, "Microsomal antibodies are produced in response to microsomes escaping from the epithelial cells surrounding the thyroid follicle. These escaped microsomes then act as antigens and give rise to antibodies. These immune complexes initiate inflammatory and cytotoxic effects on the thyroid follicle. This test is usually performed in conjunction with the antithyroglobulin antibody test."
The problem with having a disease characterized by antibodies against nuclei is that ALL cells of the body have this structure. The disease may therefore affect the brain as well as the kidney, or the joints. In other autoimmune conditions the antibodies are directed against a portion of a specialized cell and may therefore be restricted to a specific tissue type (e.g., skin).
“I'm still using the aromatherapy oil on my head. Smells better than olive oil. I really don't know how much difference either actually makes, but I do have an itching problem in my scalp as well, and the aromatherapy soothes the itching somewhat.”
An article about aromatherapy and alopecia appeared in Natural Health September/October 1997 issue. In the article, a women who suffered from AA since children and was losing all of her hair, recounted her use of aromatherapy and cayenne extract. Each night before bed, she massaged a mixture of lemon, lavender, rosemary and carrot seed essential oils in a base of jojoba oil into her scalp (no information as to the total amount of each mixed was provided). In the morning, she stimulated her scalp with cayenne pepper extract and a soft toothbrush followed by rinses of hot and cold water. She claims to have seen regrowth in about three months and had a full head of hair after six months. She has not had a recurrence of alopecia since beginning her therapy.
In "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy" by Valerie Ann Worwood several recepies are recommended using oils:
Blend ingredients together in a bainmarie and use the shampoo once a week.
Blend the ingrediants together and massage into scalp. Leave on the hair at least 30 min. before washing off.
Every night apply the following treatments all over the scalp. Mix together and store in bottle. Use 1 teaspoon for each application diluted in 1 tablespoon of cold cold water. This one doesn't smell to great and your husbands/boyfriends may not want to sleep next to at night
In the book it states, "Essential oils, and indeed many nut oils can stimulate the hair follicle and increase circulation and oxidization sufficiently to bring regrowth of hair, although in some cases this may resemble vellus or baby hair".
Some of our members have used the following recipe with some success:
In a small amber glass bottle, add the jojoga oil and carrot seed oil. Add the essential oils and shake to mix. Label. Warm the oil before application by placing it in a warm water bath. Apply by massaging a few drops into the scalp area. Leave in to be absorbed. Apply several times weekly.
Note: Small amounts of essential oils are used with the same amount of carrier oils for children. Example: where ever you read essential oils you must cut drop amount in half. Rosemary would then be 2 drops. Carrot seed oil is hard to find, expensive but a very good oil for hair problems. Calendula oil must be made by infusion (made from actual herb sitting in olive oil in the sun for about three weeks, shake from time to time.
Of related interest is an extract from the book "Herbs: Their Cultivation and Usage":
For people with sensitive skin some great non-irritating soap recipes can be found in Sandy Maine's "The Soap Book". One of the recipes is made of lavender and rosemary essential oils and comfrey root powder.
The scientific community has joined the aromatherapy bandwagon. A recent article by Hay, Isabelle, et. al. "Randomized trial of aromatherapy: successful treatment for alopecia areata." Archives of Dermatology. Vol. 134. November 1998. 1349-1352 focuses attention on this possible therapeutic intervention. The researchers in the study used a mixture of cedarwood, thyme, lavender, rosemary, jojoba, and grapeseed oils. The mixture was massaged in the scalp of patients every evening for two minutes. A placebo control group received only jojoba and a grapeseed oil mixture. To be honest, when you have a good look at the study, there are holes in it, and the title of the article is a little over optimistic. It does not mention how long people had areata, how they randomized the groups, and whether or not they had other associated disorders. Sometimes aassociated conditions (such as thyroid disorders) are a factor in a positive or negative outcome.
For those people who have tried aromatherapy, it smells too much and doesn't work all that well. What they would like is aromatherapy without the aroma!!! Additional information about this therapy can be found in a newsletter called The Integrative Medicine Consult (February 1, 1999 Volume 1, Number 4). If you would like to try it the following are some suggested dosages:
Avoid using red thyme, one of the various types of thyme. This is a potent counter irritant and will burn the scalp. This kind of thyme used with one of the better (more expensive) and more irritating forms of rosemary causes scarring. Of the scarring types of thyme- one drop can be used per 20 ml of carrier oil. Several of the inexpensive forms of rosemary are recreational but do not have the therapeutic benefits found in some of the other more potent forms. These forms may not be specified on the bottles of oil.
You may try rubbing the solution into the scalp for two minutes each day and then a warm towel or other covering is applied on top for 10-20 minutes. The scalp is not washed for at least four hours after.
Belle Star Inc 23151 Alcalde Laguna Hills, CA 92653
But an even better source is:
Yerba Buena 1809 Fourth Street Berkeley, CA 94710
The above is a "purveyor of herbs, spices, teas, essential oils and aromatherapy accessories". They do mail order, but they don't have a catalog of their goods. Phone # is 510 548-3500.
Note: People with high blood pressure, epilepsy and who are pregnant should not use aromatherapy.
--See also section 6 under Other Problems: Changes in Skin Pigmentation.
The association of multiple endocrine disorders in the same patient prompted Blizzard, Maclaren and Neufeld to use of the term Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndromes (APS) for these conditions. Their Type I APS may be seen in young adulthood or early childhood and has an equal incidence in both males and females. It is comprised primarily of three primary disorders- Addison's disease, hypoparathyroidism and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. The prevalence of these associated disorders has been summarized as follows:
| Endocrine disorders | |
|---|---|
| hypoparathyroidism | 90% |
| Addison's disease | 60% |
| Gonadal failure | 45% |
| Autoimmune thyroid disease | 10% |
| IDDM (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) | 1% |
| Nonendocrine disorders | |
| mucocutaneous candidiasis | 75% |
| malabsorption syndromes | 25% |
| ALOPECIA | 20% |
| pernicious anemia | 15% |
| chronic active hepatitis | 10% |
| Sjorgen's syndrome | 5% |
Type II APS is the more common type of polyglandular failure. It is seen at all ages but more commonly in adults. There is a strong female predominance and often there are family members with similar manifestations. The most common endocrine abnormalities in this group include Addison's disease, autoimmune thyroid disease, and IDDM. Common nonendocrine type of manifestations include ALOPECIA, vitiligo and premature greying of the hair. (For more information see WJ Riley Horm Res 38(suppl 2):9-15, 1992.)
The following is a letter writen to me by a patient suffering from this condition:
Hi! I am contacting you after having read your letter about your daughter's hairloss and how it has inspired your research. I am very moved, to say the least. I am a 37 year old woman, living in Los Angeles where I was born. I was exposed to DES (Diethylstilbestrol) in utero and now suffer from multiple autoimmune endocrinopathies. (at least 7 different types). I have had brief periods where I have experienced excessive hair loss, though always with regrowth immediately afterwards... this year I have lost more hair than ever before and i am developing bald spots where no new hair seems to be sprouting. It is a very traumatic thing to have to go through, although I am less concerned about my appearance than I am about my health. I have not been seen by a Doctor (regarding my autoimmunities) since I was "turned loose" from UCLA's medical research center 17 years ago... I was molested by a Doctor during my first year there as a patient/oddity along with having been a "guinea pig" or a living cadaver to be poked and probed with no consideration for the frightened teenager lying naked on the table. Two years ago I took a fall on some steps and broke my wrist. The osteopath who treated me discovered that my bones (after 2 months in the cast) did not seem to be fusing, or were healing at an extremely slow rate. It was then that I discovered that I was in the advanced stages of osteoporosis. I have beeen unable to get any kind of health insurance...am presently on state disability (as I am manic depressive and suffer from severe attacks of panic and anxiety) and when I look ahead to what the future may bring, I see nothing....and it is such a strange thing to live without any hope whatsoever. I am not so much afraid as I am lost. The Doctors at UCLA had placed me on estradiol and provera, which, as I told them, caused me to feel as though a war was taking place within my body. I was experiencing more extreme highs and lows than I'd ever known (which is truly saying something!!) and yet, was told consistantly by one Doctor after another that the replacement hormones "should be making me feel better"...as though I was not cooperating.!! Finally, I just gave up. I took it upon myself to stop taking the hormones as well as the advice and mental abuse I had come to expect from all Doctors. I am not sure what I'm asking for here... I don't know what I want or even that I COULD want for something...I just maybe want to be heard without being told that I am wrong or that it is my fault that I don't respond well to the medicines I've been given. I do have one hope and that is, that by hearing this, perhaps it will contribute somehow, a bit more information, to your research. So...I guess I DO have some hope alive within me, after all...Please feel free to share any of this letter with your daughter, if you feel it would be of any benefit to her. If nothing else, she might understand that she is not alone... If she needs or wants to communicate with me, I would welcome it!
Male pattern baldness is where the bonding method works best. Those of us with AU and AT should never bond hair as we do not have the hair to which the bonding glue can be applied. I do not suggest that it be used for AA for two reasons. First, the fall out pattern of AA is unpredictalbe and the bonded hair may be gone tomorrow. Second, the existing hair is in such a fragile state and putting excess stress can excelerate the loss.
In some cases the bonding method of hair replacement can be used for women with androgenetic hairloss. My only caution with this method is the excess stress it places on the existing hair. It is important with thinning hair that the attachment (bonding, clips, tape) be rotated to give the existing hair a rest. Continued use of attachments will cause traction hairloss.
There is an interesting article by Matthysse et al. (J Psychiat Res 26(4):461-473) written from the mental health perspective that recommends various "bootstrapping" techniques to "turn non-Mendelian into Mendelian phenotypes." One of the techniques (detailed in Matthyse and Parnas J Psychiat Res 26(4):329-44) is to expand the phenotype in order to increase the number of persons with the condition. The assumption is that a "minor" gene for the disorder may be a "major" gene for something else, eg, a minor gene for eczema may be major gene for alopecia areata.- I do believe that the most parsimonius model for alopecia areata is one where several genes interact with one another to produce the BSAAS.
One way to offer suggestive evidence for this was of thinking is to make a survey among our participants and divide them into 2 groups. One group would have only one person affected and the other group would have at least two persons (brothers/sisters/brother-sister/children) affected. Finding a higher prevalence of atopic disorders in the parents of those families having two siblings affected would suggest that the broader phenotype is a manifestation of the same genetic liability.
Changing our diet can lower the levels of Candidiasis, by avoiding some foods and adding some supplements like essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil ect) and garlic oil suppresses the Candidiasis growth.
The CD4/CD8 ratio is widely used in clinical practice although the values themselves have to be standardized for each laboratory. A low number may signify that your CD4 lymphocytes are low (as in AIDS) or contrariwise that the CD8 cells are in overabundance (e.g., an infection with EBV, hepatitis B virus, or even cytomegalovirus). There are at least a dozen or so publications on the subject of CD4/CD8 ratio in alopecia areata. The results have been somewhat variable. One possible explanation is that some studies compared apples and oranges including in their analysis active patients along with those in remission. Our own study showed that in patients with active alopecia areata (proven by biopsy) this ratio is increased. Other studies have led me to believe that it is due to the combination of both an absolute increase in the number of CD4 cells and a diminution in the CD8 cells.
In the April 3, 1996 Journal of the American Medical Assn a study appeared that associates alopecia areata and celiac disease (see also: Celiac disease and alopecia areata: Report of a new association", Corazza G, et al. _Gastroenterology_, 1995, vol. 109, 1333-1337). The treatment for celiac is a wheat-free, gluten-free diet. This was tried on a fourteen year old boy with aa, and it resulted in full regrowth of head and body hair. The study showed that three patients who were asymptomatic for intestinal disease but had aa tested positive for celiac disease. The study suggests that aa may be the only clinical manifestation of the disease and recommends that antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies should be included in the work-up of patients with AA.
Apparently many people are allergic to glutenous products. This is probably due to the fact that we tend to overuse gluten in our American diet. Gluten includes wheat, oats, barley and rye. Gluten is the component in these products that makes them sticky, allowing them to be kneaded into breads. Alternatives to these grains include amaranth, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, rice and corn. Also, teff, spelt and kamut have low levels of gluten and may be tolerated by some. Although wheat and gluten are tough to avoid in processed foods and in restaurants, it's not that difficult to avoid with fresh foods you make yourself.
Avoid:
Lots of good stuff you can still eat: vegies, fruit, dairy products, rice cakes. Of course, the more other things you don't eat (like dairy products, meat, sugar, etc), the harder it is. You can eat dairy products, but not red meat. Not eating pasta is the hardest -- but there is pasta made from vegies (like Jerusalem artichoke hearts) in health food stores. It is certainly true that you have to read the labels because "soy protein" which can contain wheat seems to be in everything, also caramel and malt flavoring. Some ice cream even contains the stuff. Because so many people are allergic to gluten, there are a wide variety of products available ("wheat-free" or "gluten-free") that can be found at health food stores. A catalog containing wheat-free and gluten-free bread mixes and related things is produced by Wilde Temptings (1-800-434-4846). Bette Hagman has great "gluten free gourmet" cookbooks which have recipes for gluten free deserts and breads you can make in a bread machine. Remember that there are flour replacements such as rice flour, potato starch flour, tapiocca flour and more. You don't have to do without good food.If you would like to know more about celiac disease a good web site to visit is www.celiac.com.
Dr Daly's research has focused on examining the blood plasma levels of the vasodilator/immunomodulator CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) in people with alopecia areata. He took serum samples from 18 people with alopecia areata and 69 control samples from people without alopecia areata. The serum samples were analysed using a technique called "radial immunodiffusion" (RIA). This is a simple technique to define concentrations of biological substances in solution. Dr Daly found that in people with alopecia areata the concentration of CGRP in the plasma was about half (53%) that of control samples.
Dr Daly suggests that this apparent lack of CGRP could have an important influence on alopecia areata development. He believes that without the vasodilatory properties of CGRP there may be a reduced blood flow to hair follicles and this may result in dystrophic hair follicles less able, or unable, to produce hair fiber. In his own words (from a post to our list server): "AA may be autoimmune in nature, but I believe that CGRP, a potent vasodilator and immunomodulator, is first decreased in patients with AA. We have shown lower serum levels and other researchers have shown lower tissue levels. The low CGRP causes the hair to grow poorly due to decreased blood supply and allows the immune aspects of the hair to be exposed due to lowered immune protection by CGRP. I call this the 2 steptheory-1)low CGRP 2) immune response. I believe both aspects must be corrected to have hair regrowth." He also suggests that lack of blood flow may also account for nail pitting, eczema, and pigmentary abnormalities.
CGRP also has immunomodulatory properties and apparently suppresses antigen presentation to lymphocytes and slows down their proliferation and reactivity. This suggests that people with a deficiency of CGRP may have a greater susceptibility to inflammatory reactions as occur in alopecia areata. Calcium, nicotine, caffeine as well as steroids and pregnancy increase CGRP levels
Dr Daly believes that this deficiency in CGRP shows that people develop alopecia areata as a result of deficient thyroid production and that the autoimmune hypothesis of alopecia areata development needs to be modified or may be entirely wrong. He believes that using treatments directed at replacing and/or increasing levels of CGRP in the blood stream of people with AA may be an effective promotor of hair regrowth.
Some comments would be:
References for CGRP in AA include:
Rossi I et al. Neuroreport. 8(5):1135-8, 1997
Daly T. Archives of Dermatology 134,1164-5,Sept 1998
Mijalovic B. V Pregled 54(1):31-3. 1997
Daly T. Journal of Investigative Dermatology June 1999
Atkin D JAAD 37(5).Pt 1, 796-7, 1997
The herbs used in the systemic treatment are usually complemented by drinking lots of water. Systemic treatment consists of mixing equal portions of Rhizoma seu Radix Noptergii, Fructus Chaenomelis lagenariae, Rhizoma Gastrodiae, Radix Paeoniae albae, Radix Angelicae sinensis, Semen Cuscutae, Radix Rehmanniae conquitae, Radix Ligustici walchii, and grinding them into powder. The powder is mixed with honey to make pills the size of a "Chinese parasol tree seed". The pills are taken 4 to 6 twice or thrice per day for about 6 months. The alopecia pills and information of the same can be obtained through the Net at chiherbs@primenet.com. The pills are fairly inexpensive $2.75 a bottle (100 per bottle). That is about $15 per month. Stores may sell a similar preparation under the name of Shen Min Hair Nutrient. You may also want to review the definition of Trichogen elsewhere in this Dictionary.
The accupuncture practiced by Chinese medical professionals involves several different steps. First, the practitioner applies a lotion to the scalp. The lotion contains herbs (mostly ginger but Westeners use cedar, sesame, olive or eucalyptus oils) in ethyl alcohol. Ginger contains phenol, a chemical compound previously used in the treatment of alopecia areata. Phenol acts as an irritant and may increase blood flow to an area. These are massaged directly into into the scalp where hairloss is occurring once or twice daily.
Next, the practitioner use a tooth pick or needle to poke on the AA patch without piercing the skin. Traditional accupuncture uses a "7 star needles" that looks like a hammer with 7 needle but has a flexible handle. This instrument is also called a Chinese dermal hammer (a small hammerlike device, usually made of lightweight plastic or metal which has one end a simulated hammer about a half inch in diameter with many fine protruding needles (OUCH). This instrument has also been used in other dermatological conditions including psoriasis, eczema, certain rashes and wrinkles.
The scalp is tapped slightly with the 7 needles especially around the edges of the lesions. The poking effect may, again, be similar to other irritants been used on AA. It is used to "awaken the nerves" and improve blood flows. Lastly, the practitioner presses his thumb hard on the AA patch and rocks his thumb for a few minutes without pulling out any hair. This, again is again done to improve the blood circulation. Overall, visits should cost between $10 and $30. Anybody trying to slap a $50 tab on you each time are way over priced. Treatment may last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the severity of the condition.
There is an interesting article detailing the use of traditional Chinese herbal therapy in atopic dermatitis. As you are already aware AA and atopic dermatitis are often seen coexisting in the same patient. The study reported clinical improvement of the condition but pointed out that given the number of herbs and different active ingredients it was difficult to discern a mechanism. The authors also found that their concoction was potentially toxic and could produce liver damage. (Sheehan M, et al, Efficacy of traditional Chinese herbal therapy in adult atopic dermatitis. Lancet 1992, 340:13-17).
Another use of Chinese herbal therapy is in restoring hair pigmentation (e.g., premature graying). The use of He Shou Wou supposedly nourishes liver and kidney essence thus making the hair darker. The name of the herb comes from an ancient story of a famous military leader who was condemned to death by confinement in a remote cell without any food or drink. He was able to survive by consuming the leaves and roots of an accesible vine-like weed (polygonum multiflorum). After one year his keepers went back to collect his remain only to find him completely rejuvenated with lustrous black hair. Since that time the herb has been named in his honor (He Shou Wou). The herb may be found as an ingredient in a patented formula called "Shou Wou Chih" or Fo Ti. Another remedy for restoring hair color is black sesame seeds (one tablespoon daily). The seeds are roasted and ground with salt to make a condiment or mixed with honey or powdered sugar for a sweet version. See the article Integrating the Traditional Chinese Understanding of the Kidneys into Western Herbalism by for more information (especially section 8).
Note: The terminology of Chinese herbal remedies may be somewhat confusing. Fo Ti, Shou Wu, He Shou Wu, Radix multiflora polysomething or other... are all the same. Trichogen and Shen Min contain Shou Wu (amongst other ingredients.)
Fitzgerald DA, et al. (1995) Spa pool dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 33:53.
See also section 6: How do I take care of my skin?
I am sitting at the breakfast table reading my newspaper when a picture on the first page draws my attention. A young distinguished scientist was caught performing fraudulent clinical trials and is being sent to prison. Fifteen years in jail and 15 year probation has been the harsh sentence. A plea bargain has allowed him to retain some personal possessions otherwise disputed under the Ricco statues.
I raise my eyebrows. Uhhmmmff.
A hazelnut aroma suffocates me. I pause to sip discretely the coffee that my wife has placed in front of me.
"The details of this remarkable schme have been found within the archives of the FDA", quotes the newspaper.
I wipe my lips with a handkership that had been tucked in between my wallet and my pocket.
"The FDA is an ancient organization originally derived from the Fumbling Dictographers Association. It was a group of federal employees that because of their tenure could not be fired but, rather, were clustered together and isolated from otherwise better employees. The incept was based on the dictum, "if you can't fire them, give them good recommendation so that they can move to another job."
The organization was charged by President James Garfield with the responsibility of copying a series of Spanish transcripts that dealt with the history of malaria. Unfortunately the President was assasinated before seeing the end result of his mandate. Unable to read or speak Spanish, the FDA labored at copying over and over the original text and misattributing its authorship. The recreated text gave rise to Gorjas manuscript on malaria. By means of a singular series of mistakes the text was transformed to an epistolary narrative on polio. Eventually, accumulated errors gave rise to the use of steroids in alopecia. Sensitizers and irritant were different interpretations for a term the FDA had originally translated as skin tenderizer."
I sit, amazed by the newspaper account. No wonder I always confused DPCP with DNCB. SABDE was just more gibberish.
I felt sorry for the investigator that was sent to jail. The FDA in mistranslating the original text may have inadvertently attributed authorship to the wrong person.
I signal my wife with my hand to call her attention. "You see Gisela," I said imperturbably, "Although there are many clinical trials in alopecia they are all rehashed versions of one that never even attempted to find a cure for the condition."
Teaching point: Wouldn't it be nice if the cure for alopecia is found from experiments designed to treat or cure alopecia rather than high blood pressure, prostate dysfunction, glaucoma, organ rejection, etc?
The following is an excerpt, loosely translated, from a TV news broadcast in Turkey:
“A catastrophic event would nearly happen in Bulgaria when the Head of the Balds' Association was caught with a COMB in his pocket. The man was going to be removed from the Association as it was forbidden to carry a comb according to the rules of their association. The man could only convince the members not to remove him by saying that he was carrying the comb for his moustache!”
Well there is one advantage of not having hair; you can't get the cooties. Otherwise if you have them, treatment is easily instituted through the use of lindane (Kwell) or "synergized pyrethrins" such as R.I.D. An alternate therapy may be a very painful innoculation. Sometimes a shoulder punch will work, but the proven method is a good hard pinch. Corticosteroid injections, as always, exacerbate the condition. Is there a point in being weird about things that don't exist? Well, maybe just in having fun. (Hopefully this dictionary and its definitions are cootie free!)
The whole point of the article is that fairly innocous application of steroids may be absorbed even when they are not injected. I have heard that a clove of garlic under the foot inside your shoe will soon start to smell on your breath. I haven't tried it myslef but if this were the case it would attest to the absorbance capacity of the skin.
The article by Wells and Brodell suggest a similarity between the flare ups of the conditions treated by topical steroids and alopecia areata. It is apparent that after repeated aplications, the steroid controlled the immediate manifestation, but ended by making the underlying condition worse in the long run. An interesting point (as basic as it sounds) is that at present we don't have a study comparing the long term outcome (20 years down the road) of patients treated with steroids vs. those that didn' receive them. Who knows maybe the majority of our participants never recovered because of the aggresive treatment they may have received early in life? Maybe those that didn't receive medication have recovered and therefore are not within our list server. These are emphatically a concatenation of loose ideas but may serve as food for thought.
Couvre works well and makes the bald patches less conspicuous if you have hair to comb over the bald spots. Presumably the product is safe to use even if you are already putting some kind of topical medication on your spots.It doesn't run, even in the rain, even in the shower, even if you sweat. It needs to be washed off with shampoo or soap. Some people apply it by rubbing it onto the salp with a couple of fingers although it comes with an applicator sponge. Wash your hair, comb it out and then apply the Couvre before blow drying. It is somewhat messy and will stain pillow cases and sheets if you don't wash your hair before bed. Also, if you don't wash your hands with soap after application then it rubs off on whatever you touch.
Some people have also used mehndi tattooing as a way to cover the bald spots. The method only provides for temporary results. You can read more about mehndi in section 5 under Wig Alternatives.
Searching medline I found a recent article which from the title sounds like eliminating gluten does not always result in regrowth of hair:
Bondavalli P; Quadri G; Parodi A; Rebora A. Failure of gluten-free diet in celiac disease-associated alopecia areata [letter]. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 1998 Jul, 78(4):319.
You may also want to check the following article:
Corazza GR; Andreani ML; Venturo N; Bernardi M; Tosti A; Gasbarrini G. Celiac disease and alopecia areata: report of a new association. Gastroenterology, 1995 Oct, 109(4):1333-7.
“I took cyclosporine pills for 4 months but the result was totaly negative. Now that I haven't taken anything for a year and half I am experiencing regrowth. What kind of crazy contition is this?”
An immunosuppressive agent derived from fermentation of a soil fungi (Tolypocladium inflatum Gams). The drug affects the activity of certain types of immune cells (helper T lymphocytes) without affecting others (suppressor T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, etc.). It has been used extensively in medicine to prevent transplant rejection, less so in psoriasis and rheumathoid arthritis.
Although it has been reported that some severe cases of alopecia areata (including AT and AU) have shown regrowth when treated with the drug, its toxicity prevents widespread usage. Some side effects of the medication include renal failure, hypertension, liver damage, an increased susceptibility to infections, tremors, etc. The concentration of cyclosporin can be increased by drinking grapefruit juice, taking oral contraceptives or calcium channel blockers. As one of our lady participants said you could probably obtain better results with less side effects by putting the hair above her lip (that she bleaches) and the hair between her eyebrows (that she plucks) glued to her forehead.
The original report by Dr skinner suggested CMV was found in or near hair follicles in people with AA. Dr Skinner tested a small number of skin biopsies and consistently found CMV for biopsies of AA affected skin versus biopsies taken from people with other skin disease. He suggested CMV might be causing inflammation which led to hair loss. There is a seperate report on injection of CMV into mouse skin causing localised inflammatory alopecia around the area of injection.
Three different research groups tried to repeat Dr Skinners findings but failed to identify CMV in hair follicles from their biopsies. I think one group used in situ hybridization techniques and the others examined for DNA derived from CMV. It is thought that Dr Skinner was either just "lucky" in finding CMV in all of his samples or he had a problem with CMV DNA contamination in his laboratory.
This is a powerful steroid which may provide the precursor for androgen and estrogen in peripheral tissues. There have been many uses for DHEA reported in the medical literature. Among the ever increasing list are its use to restore immune competence in aged animals, prevent atherosclerosis, in aging (restoring some cognitive functions) inhibit platelet aggregability, prevent cancer, and even as an antidepressant. In the layman press DHEA has been said to promote a sense of well being, improve sexual function and grow hair.
I have some concerns based on the fact that the drug has been tested primarily in animals and we don't know its complete range of side effects. I still believe in one of the laws of physics in that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. I believe that you can push the body so far with medications (especially a powerful steroid with a plethora of actions) before noticing serious side effects. One possible scenario is the long term risk for cancer for those tissues that actively respond to sex-hormones, e.g., breast and prostate. If you have prostate cancer DHEA could prove deadly.
Of related interest, rom a recent interview in the London Observer of Drs. Malcom Carruthers and Steven Shalet:
“Testosterone controls virility. Low testosterone equals low libido, reduced sexual performance, lack of vigor and energy, and in extreme cases, osteroporosis and bone problems …
“… in light of this, men can blame their urgent need to disappear off to the pub, snooker hall, golf course or rugby international on their hormones, and anyone unhappy with that will be powerless to protest.”
Unfortunately my wife is never convinced about my scientific explanations for playing golf.
The mites live on sebum, the oily material that the scalp secretes. The mites are universally present in all humans after adolescence suggesting that alopecia may depend, among other things, on the genetic suceptibility of the subject. The following news release relating alopecia to mites was provided to the UPI during a Dermatology conference in Miami, 1998.
Here's the Official Alopeciac Mite Song:
“I love my jeans, and the way they hug, but my genes, my genes, my genes got bugs, There's vermin on my chromosomes, and that's why I'm a chromo-dome, OOOH, mites! Get away from me! OOOH mites, Let my lashes be! They are here to stay and my new shampoo washes them away, but they come back too, and they make me sneeze and they make me wheeze, and they make me do the wig strip-tease, I'm humbled by their strength and power they chew on my hair and oil every day and hour. I love my genes, and my grandma's, too, and I want to know - Grandma? Grandma? OOOH, why didn't mites do this to you? Can my neighbor get 'em if I use her pool? OOOH mites, mites in my genes.”
However, other dermatologists took his idea and showed by statisitics that dental decay in the general population was just as common as in people with AA (bear in mind that tooth decay was much more common at this time).
Hair, nails, teeth and eyes are all related "organs" although their similarity of structure and cell type is much more obvious in less complex animals than ourselves. Although the link between hair and nails being affected is clear, there has been no evidence to suggest that eyes or teeth are affected in AA any more than in the general population. Most likley for mammals (dogs, horses, mice, rats, primates and cattle can get AA too) teeth and eyes are so differentiated from the hair follicles that they escape the attention of the immune system attacking hair follicle antigens - assuming this is an immune based condition.
| normal | ======================================== |
|---|---|
| dysthimic | ================================ |
| major depressive | ======================== |
People with dysthimia are not very happy and kind of blue. Most may not even know that there is anything wrong. They never know exactly what is wrong with them, but always feel different from everyone else. They don't feel the same joy in life as other people seem to be getting out of it. Never feel like they are good enough, don't want to be in public or with other people. They sleep alot and just never have any energy, any positive thoughts about their future, and always see the glass "half empty" as they say. They may have a problem with anxiety also and it makes it alot worse. The only way to explain the feeling is like walking around in a fog all the time. One of the participants within our discussion group didn't realize what was her problem until she was 26 years of age. After being put on medication for the first time, she first experienced what it was like to feel "normal" and what life felt like. It was an amazing transformation for her.
You may many things on-line about it, on-line groups such as our alopecia list server that you can join. You just have to do a little searching. List server are like friends that may help you know when you are kicking yourself around.
The hardest part for some persons looking for help has been the fact that other people don't understand what is happening. Most people think that you can just "snap out of it" NOT TRUE!!!!!!!
Artifical fiber implants into the scalp were popular in Japan a few years ago until these problems were recognized. The Japanese manufacturers of the synthetic fiber then claimed that they had solved the problem of inflammation by coating the synthetic fibers with a special polymer. However I doubt that this would truely resolve the inflammation problem and it does nothing to block skin infection via the punched holes in the scalp.
The following may be of interest:
New Jersey Files Suit Against United Micro Systems
In response to a lawsuit filed by the New Jersey Attorney General and Division of Consumer Affairs Director, a New Jersey Superior Court judge has frozen the assets of United Micro Systems ("UMS") of Voorhees, New Jersey.
UMS offers a hair replacement system called "Dermal Retention," about which the state alleges UMS made false and misleading claims in both its internet advertisements and in national magazines.
The suit names both former and current owners and employees as defendants. Camden County Superior Court Judge Theodore Z. Davis has ordered the defendants to appear for another hearing on May 18 to respond to the states allegations.
According to the Attorney General, UMS and the defendants "...lured men and women into purchasing their product with unsubstantiated claims about this so called 'hair replacement system' and then turned their backs on the victims when the product failed... We cannot and will not stand by while salespeople allegedly take advantage of trusting consumers. That is why we're taking action in this matter."
Complaints in the case by consumers range include high cost (as high as $8,000), misleading the public by calling the hair replacement "permanent", and that the hair systems did not look natural and came loose within days.
Several UMS employees are also former employees of another New Jersey company called International Cosmetics Laboratories, Inc ("ICL"), which marked a fradulent treatment for baldness called the "cosmetic suture process." ICL was prosecuted by New Jersey Consumer Affairs in 1994 and eventually went bankrupt.
The formal charges against UMS by the state include:
Falsely claiming that Dermal Retention was permanent and that it created "an individual hair effect"; UMS promised that the hair replacement process would look natural and create an undetectable hairline; Misleading before and after photographs were used in its promotional materials. UMS promised consumers that their product was warranteed and had a satisfaction guarantee which were not honored.
Eat a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet. Eliminate milk and milk products, including commercial foods made with milk. Minimize consumption of foods of animal origin. Avoid polyunsaturated vegetable oils of all kinds. Most importantly, supplement the diet with a program of regular aerobic exercise. For more information on diet and other health concern issues you may visit his site at http://www.drweil.com.
Echinacea is not recommended for people with autoimmune disorders because it boosts production of interferon-gamma (IFN-g) which is a cytokine (chemical messenger) for the immune system. IFN-g is involved in Th-1 responses, which stands for T-lymphocyte helper cells. Th-1 responses are pro-inflammatory/"attack". Conversely, Th-2 responses (still T-helper cells) are "anti-inflammatory" and order the Th-1 cells to "stop attacking". The same thing holds for melatonin. (See Melatonin)
“I was born with total alopecia, and my daughter was born with partial alopecia. Aside from alopecia we both have some dental abnormalities. Basically we are missing some teeth, and the teeth that we do have don't have the enamel coating. Both of us also have problems with our fingernails-they are rather unusual as they are thick and curve inward-like an upside down spoon. Our sweat glands and tear ducts don't work the way they should either. A person born with two of the things that I mentioned could be classified as having Ectodermal Dysplasia.”
A recent published study has isolated the gene of a condition that manifests itself with baldness. The condition is called ectodermal dysplasia- a condition described by the English naturalist Darwin over 100 years ago. The disorders arise from disturbances in one or more ectodermal structures and their accessory appendages. The absence of, or deficient function of, at least two derivatives of the ectoderm constitutes a form of ED. Each combination of defects represents another type of ED and has a specific name. At least 150 different forms of Ed have been identified. Individuals affected by ED have at least two or more of the following manifestations:
Familial studies suggested it was a disorder related to the sex (X) chromosome. Some 125,000 Americans suffer from the condition. The results of the study suggest that scientist may develop a screening test to detect women who carry the gene or affected fetuses dring pregnancy- other practical applications (especially as it may relate to baldness remain obscure).
Treatment consists of avoiding excessive heating in rooms as this increases skin dryness and itching. Woollen and nylon clothing can (if next to the skin) cause irritation and should be avoided. Clothing made from 100% cotton is ideal. Biological (enzyme) washing powders may aggravate eczema and so should be substituted with non-biological detergents. It should be noted that tiredness and emotional stress do aggravate eczema. Foods implicated in allergic reactions include dairy products, wheat, seafood and peanuts. Dietary exclusion should only be carried out under the supervision of a dietician as this could lead to malnutrition.
Interestingly, there is an increased density of house dust mite allergen (Der p1) in the homes of people with atopic eczema. Does increased exposure to house dust mites cause the eczema or is the increased density secondary to the heavy shedding of skin scales on which the mites feed?
The hypothesis that AE improves if amounts of house dust mite allergen in the home are reduced was the subject of a double-blind controlled trial, the results of which were published in the Lancet (Tan,B.B et al, 1996). Active treatment comprised of Gortex bedcovers, impenetrable to the house dust mite (placebo - cotton covers), benzyl tannate spray, a mite killing agent (placebo - water) and a high-filtration vacuum cleaner (placebo- conventional domestic vacuum cleaner).
Although the severity of eczema decreased in both groups, the active group showed significantly greater improvements and it was concluded that the activity of AE can be greatly reduced by effective house dust mite avoidance.
Estrogen is an indirect antiandrogen - it leads to reduced levels of testosterone. Several studies with topical application of estradiol (estrogen) on men with androgenetic alopecia suggest growth promotion of hair, and/or stabilization of hair loss. The particular study I am thinking of is German:
Orfanos CE, Vogels L. Lokaltherapie der alopecia androgenetica mit 17(alpha) ostradiol. Dermatologica 1980; 161: 124-132.
However, the side effects with estrogen could be significant - for men at least - including decreased libido and, um, growth of breasts plus increased cancer risk.
Looking at AA the story gets more complex as estrogen also has a role to play in the immune system. CD8 T cells (which are destructive cells found in large numbers in/around AA affected hair follicles) have estrogen receptors and are stimulated into action by higher levels of the hormone. Estrogen also promotes proliferation of B cells and production of immunoglobulin. That might suggest estrogen blockers could be of some use in AA assuming these cell types are causing hair loss in AA. However, IMHO estrogen levels are not of fundamental importance in AA (that does not exclude a role for them though) plus, given the side effects of estrogen blockers, their future does not look too bright. Abnormalities in estrogen metabolism, have been reported in other autoimmune disorders, including lupus, rheumathoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Eucaderm Ltd 7 West Terrace Eastbourne, East Sussex BN214QX England TEL +044 1323645164 e-mail hair@mistral.co.uk
It is apprently great if you have psoriasis or eczema but of all of the list server members that have reported using the product for alopecia, none have reported positive results.
“Finally, an update on the eucalyptus oil. The oil did indeed help to soothe the stinging and itching of my scalp, but as much as my husband and I both find it to have a pleasant aroma, it was much too overpowering to use in oil form. I have switched to Dr. Bronner's eucalytus soap in diluted form and am using it for shampoo. The shampoo controls the itch quite nicely. The stinging sensation had actually stopped after I first tried the oil and much to my surprise I find that I now have some pigmented hair growing in the areas that were stinging so much.”
Eucalyptus oil (liquid or in a bar) is readily available in health food stores. Very reasonably priced too; affordable for any pocket book. It is used because fleas and ticks are repelled by eucalyptus. (See Journal of Allergies and Clinical Immunology, Oct., 1997) (See Demodex follicularum).
Kiehl's is now making an Eucalyptus Liquid Body Cleanser. As with all Kiehl's products, it's probably not cheap but good quality. You can call Kiehl's at 1-800-KIEHLS-1 for the store closest to you, or a catalogue. It contains the fragrance but not much of the oil per se. Eucalyptus oil is used topicaly never internally.
The irregular construction of the hair gives it weak spots where it can readily break off. This gives rise to the stumpy hair fibers called exclamation mark hairs that can often be seen in expanding patches of AA. This increasing irregularity of the hair fiber reflects the increasing influence of the inflammatory infiltrate through time. Eventually the inflammation builds up to such an intensity that the hair follicle finds it impossible to make any real hair fiber. Breakage usually occurs some 3 to 4 mm from the scalp. Often the broader distal edge tends to be normally pigmented while the proximal edge (adjacent to the scalp) appears paler. Exclamation hairs are not diagnostic for alopecia areata and may be seen in several different conditions including chemotherapy.
These rights include but are not limited to the subject's right to:
“My hair is just about totally gone, and I have muscle spasms, I can't sleep properly, e.g.; fall asleep about 2-3:00 A.M. and up at 6:00 A.M. for work, this is daily. I am tired all the time, I am very depressed, yet I seem to be moving to fast.”
Fibromylagia referes to chronic and widespread musculoskeletal pain. It is associated with disturbed sleep, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel... (does the list sound familiar or do I need to keep on going?). To top it all, fibromyalgia has been know to antecede hypothyroidism. (See fibromyalgia under Section 6 Other Problems).
Finasteride was previously used for prostate conditions at a 5 mg dosage. I haven't read any resuls from long term studies with the drug, the package insert only details results at 24 months follow-up (17% of treated patients had hair loss versus 72% of those in the placebo group). The experimental design for the Finasteride trial differes markedly from that of the monixidil trial making comparison difficult. Thus far there aren't any indications for its use in alopecia areata/universalis.
You can also obtain your recommended supplementation of omega 3-fatty acids from the flax seeds themselves. Buy whole flax seeds and keep them refrigerated. Take enough for one week supply, grind them in a coffee grinder or blender, and take two spoons daily.
Omega 3 fatty acids (see dictionary for a definition) are not used as energy by the body as are most oils nor are they stored very much in fat cells. Rather they are used as building blocks for many critical tissues in the body, particularly membranes of the intestinal tract, brain and cardiovascular system. Lack of omega 3 fatty acids causes the body to have to use inferior substances with imperfect molecular structures in an attempt to fill this need and it is little wonder that all sorts of problems can be traced to this.
An article in Science (279:720-724, 1998) created some controversy by using an erroneous nomenclature and publicizing having found a gene for alopecia universalis. Although the patients in the article do have universal alopecia, that is hair loss all over their bodies, they do not have "alopecia universalis", a well defined autoimmune condition. The individuals in the article were born without eyebrows or eyelashes. They never experienced any hair regrowth and there was no hair follicle inflammation.
The condition the affected individuals have should have been designated as congenital atrichia. This is a very rare genetic condition that results in abnormal development of hair follicles. It does not involve inflammation of hair follicles as alopecia areata/totalis/unviersalis does. It is probably similar to a condition in mice that have a mutated gene called "hairless". This is not an accepted animal model for alopecia areata or universalis.
Although the genetic research is important in our understanding of how hair follicles are made and grow, it does not have a direct bearing on the inflammato