Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith is facing alopecia areata that causes her immense hair loss. It is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss in different sizes and shapes. The type of hair loss is different in every person. Some people lose all of their hair or some lose only a few spots. There are different causes and symptoms of alopecia areata according to different persons.
Symptoms of Alopecia Areata
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The main symptom of alopecia is a loss of hair in different ways. You may notice conditions in your hair loss:
- You will spot small bald patches on your scalp or other parts of the body.
- Your patches will get wider and grow together.
- Sometimes hair grows back in one spot but loses from the other.
- Increase in hair loss during winter.
- Losing a high amount of hair in a short period.
- Changes in the colour of your nails to red, brittle, and pitted.
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Causes of Alopecia Areata
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Usually, normal people lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. But we couldn’t notice them because the new hairs replace them. In alopecia areata, new hair doesn’t replace the fallen ones. Here are some conditions that can cause this problem.
Family history: It is the most common cause of this hair loss disease. If your parents or grandparents are affected by this problem, then there are more chances that it will affect you either.
Changes in hormones or other medical conditions: Changes in hormones or other medical conditions like asthma, thyroid disease, down syndrome, etc can also be the main causes of hair loss.
Via some medications or supplements: It can also be a result of any medications or supplements that are used for controlling certain health problems like cancer, depression, heart problems, arthritis, etc.
Stress: Many people experience a thinning of hair due to physical or emotional shock. Stress is one of the main reasons that could cause hair loss, but it is a temporary one.
Hairstyle and treatments: Excessive implementation of the hairstyling activities could also damage your hair such as pigtails or cornrows. If it causes scars on your scalp, it could be permanent.
Radiation therapy on the head: Radiation therapy on your head can also make a condition of hair loss.
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Things to Avoid When You Have Alopecia Areata
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However, there is no cure for Alopecia Areata. But according to the Journal of Nutritional Medicine and Diet Care, patients who are affected by hair loss have recovered themselves by following some major lifestyle changes. So, if you are affected or feeling any symptoms of Alopecia Areata, then you must follow these things given below:
Control your diet: There are not very heavy measures to take, you just have to avoid some food items such as grains, potatoes, eggs, legumes, dairy products, alcohol, oil, sugar and food additives.
Go easy on your hair: Always use a detangler and avoid going hard on them while brushing or combing, especially when they are wet. Use a wide-toothed comb that prevents them from pulling. Do not use treatments like hot rollers, curling irons, or hot oil treatments.
Ask a doctor about your medication: If you are going through some medical conditions and taking medicines and supplements for curing them, then you must ask your doctor about their side effects on hair loss.
Protect your hair: Always protect your hair from heavy sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet light.
Use a cooling cap while Chemotherapy: If you are under the treatment for chemotherapy, ask your doctor to use a cooling cap. This will reduce the risk of hair loss.
Quit Smoking: Some studies have also shown the harmful impact of smoking on baldness. So, if you smoke, then quit it as soon as you can.