Alopecia Areata

What Is Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny cup-shaped structures from which hairs grow. This can lead to hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere.
In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter. In many cases, the disease does not extend beyond a few bare patches. In some people, hair loss is more extensive. Although uncommon, the disease can progress to cause total loss of hair on the head (referred to as alopecia areata totalis) or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body (alopecia areata universalis).

Alopecia Areata - What Causes It?

In alopecia areata, immune system cells called white blood cells attack the rapidly growing cells in the hair follicles that make the hair. The affected hair follicles become small and drastically slow down hair production. Fortunately, the stem cells that continually supply the follicle with new cells do not seem to be targeted. So the follicle always has the potential to regrow hair.

Homeopathy and Alopecia

After severe acute diseases: Chin., Fer., Calc., Carb. v., Hep., Lyc., Sil.; 

after confinement: Calc., Lyc., Natr. m., Sulph.;
if caused by long grief: Ign., Lach., Phos. ac., Staph.;
 if by nervous or hysteric headaches: Ant. crud., Bufo, Calc., Hep., Nitr. ac., Phos., Sep., Sil., Sulph.;
if caused by frequent sweats: Merc.;
from syphilis: Sarsap., Thuj.
As regards the condition of the scalp and hair give for sensitiveness of the scalp: Ars., Calc., Bar. c., Carb. v., Chin., Hep., Natr. m., Sil., Sulph.
For violent itching of the scalp, especially if in consequence of old suppressed eruptions: Graph., Kali carb., Lyc., Sil., Sulph.
For scales on the head: Calc., Graph., Magn., Staph.
For disposition of hair to turn gray: Graph., Lyc., Phos. ac., Sulph. ac.
For great dryness of the hair: Calc., Kali carb., Phos. ac.
When the hair is frequently covered with viscid sweat: Chin., Merc.
On the eyebrows: Agar., Bell., Caust., Kali carb.
When the hair falls off on the sides of the head: Graph., Phos.;
on the forehead: Ars., Natr. m., Phos.;
on the vertex: Bar. c., Graph., Lyc., Sep., Zinc.;
on the occiput: Carb. v., Petr., Phos., Sil.;
on the temples: Calc., Kali carb., Lyc., Natr. m.;
for some places getting bald: Canth., Iod., Phos.;
Falling off of whiskers: Calc., Graph., Natr. m., Plumb.;
of mustaches: Kali, Natr. m., Plumb.;
of mons veneris: Helleb., Natr., Natr. m., Rhus, Sil.

Arsenicum album

 Touching the hair is painful; bald patches at or near the forehead; scalp covered with dry scabs and scales, looking rough and dirty, extending sometimes even to forehead, face and ears. 

Calcarea carbonica

 Hair falls out, especially when combing; dryness of hair; great sensitiveness of scalp, with yellowish or white scales on scalp; sensation of coldness of outer head. 

Lycopodium clavatum

 Hair becomes gray early; hair falls off after abdominal diseases; after parturition; with burning, scalding, itching of the scalp, especially on getting warm from exercise during the day. 

Phosphorus

 Round patches on scalp completely deprived of hair; falling off of the hair in large bundles on the forehead and on the sides above the ears; the roots of the hair seem to be dry; the denuded scalp looks clear, white and smooth; dandruff copious, falls out in clouds. 

Staphisagria

 Hair falls out, mostly from occiput and around the ears, with humid, foetid eruption or dandruff on the scalp. Hair pulls out without pain after the slightest effort. 

Vinca minor

 Hair falls out in single spots and white hair grows there; spots on head oozing moisture, the hair matting together.