Manhattan

121 East 60th Street, Suite 8AB, New York, NY 10022

Ph. (212) 285-1110

Long Island

901 Stewart Ave, Suite 240, Garden City, NY 11530

Ph. (516) 512-7616

New York City (212) 285-1110

Garden City, NY (516) 512-7616

Alopecia Areata Treatment in New York

Alopecia areata is a disorder in which the immune system attacks its own healthy body tissue and hair follicles. The cause is unknown; however, about a fifth of people with this condition have a family history of alopecia. This condition can affect men, women, and children and can occur after a major life event such as illness, pregnancy, or trauma. Double board-certified dermatologist and laser surgeon Dr. Rokhsar successfully treats Alopecia Areata and hair loss in NYC.

What is Alopecia Areata?

This autoimmune disease affects approximately two percent of the population overall, including five million people in the United States alone. Affected individuals will notice round areas of hair loss in the scalp as well as other body areas. Alopecia Areata is only when one loses patches of hair. There are other, more serious conditions such as Alopecia Totalis, the complete loss of scalp hair, and Alopecia Universalis, the total loss of all body hair.

Some people may experience an itching or burning sensation. There are treatments available to make the hair regrow more rapidly, including topical medications and cortisone injections. It merely takes multiple cortisone injections to grow the hair follicles back, but coupled with other treatments will allow patients to see optimal results.

Treatments to stimulate hair growth may include:

  • Steroid injections under the surface of the skin
  • Topical corticosteroids
  • Topical immunotherapy
  • Topical minoxidil
  • Ultraviolet light therapy

Alopecia Treatment FAQ

How does alopecia areata start?

Alopecia areata is a type of alopecia that typically begins with sudden hair loss in round or oval patches on the scalp, but it can also affect other parts of the body such as the beard area in men or the eyebrows and eyelashes. The hair on these patches falls out very quickly and extremely, and around the edges of the patch, there are often short broken hairs or “exclamation point” hairs that are narrower at their base than their tip. Alopecia areata may occur on the scalp and can also develop slowly and recur after years between. The condition may be caused by the immune system attacking the hair follicles.

What does alopecia areata look like?

The appearance of alopecia can vary depending on the type and cause of the condition.

Alopecia areata, for example, often starts as a round or oval bald patch on the scalp. This type of alopecia can also affect other parts of the body, such as the eyebrows, eyelashes, and face.

Androgenic alopecia, on the other hand, typically causes gradual hair loss, starting at the temples and crown of the head. This type of alopecia is also known as male-pattern baldness, as it is more common in men, but it can also affect women.

Traction alopecia can cause missing and broken hairs, as well as little bumps on the scalp that look like pimples.

Scarring alopecia, which is a type of hair loss caused by the destruction of hair follicles, usually appears as a bald patch where hair used to be, and the skin in that area may look smooth and shiny.

How serious is alopecia areata?

Alopecia areata can occur on the scalp, as well as other parts of the body, and may develop slowly and recur after years between occurrences.

There is no cure for alopecia areata, but there are treatments available to help regrow hair. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss, hair may regrow without treatment within a year. However, in more severe cases, medication and surgery may be necessary.

How to stop alopecia areata from spreading?

There are several ways to stop alopecia areata from spreading, including topical treatments, injections, diet changes, stress management, and natural remedies.

Corticosteroid injections and topical treatments remain popular first-line treatments for alopecia areata. These treatments can have side effects like skin thinning and atrophy. Dr. Rokhsar also offers platelet-rich-plasma, or PRP, injections. He can easily perform the procedure in the office. After your blood is drawn, the vial is spun in a centrifuge and the supernatant fluid containing nutrient-rich factors that aid in hair regrowth is injected in the affected areas. Most patients notice significant improvement after 3-6 sessions a month apart. You may also need to continue sessions annually to maintain long-lasting hair growth.

In addition to conventional treatments, there are several alternative ways to stop alopecia areata from spreading. Dietary changes can help prevent alopecia areata from spreading, such as temporarily cutting out certain foods or incorporating foods like yogurt, beetroots, apples, and lemon into the diet. Nutritious diets, including supplements such as phosphorus, protein, and vitamins, can also help prevent the condition from occurring.

Reducing stress, avoiding hair or scalp trauma, and identifying unique triggers can also be helpful in stopping alopecia areata from spreading. Massage, brush, and essential oils, including coconut oil, can help stimulate hair growth and reduce inflammation on the scalp. Natural remedies like probiotics and anthralin can also be beneficial in preventing the condition from spreading.

Things to avoid when you have alopecia areata?

  • Nightshade vegetables: Peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes should be avoided as they can trigger inflammation. Similarly, inflammatory foods should also be avoided as they can lead to hair loss and worsen alopecia areata.
  • Stress: Try to avoid getting stressed out as it can trigger unexpected hair loss and regrowth.
  • Harsh treatments: Avoid harsh treatments such as hot rollers, curling irons, hot-oil treatments, and permanents. Also, limit the tension on hair from styles that use rubber bands, barrettes, and braids.
  • Certain medications: Some medications can cause hair loss, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking.

In addition to avoiding these things, it is advisable to include antioxidants, probiotics, biotin, zinc, and healthy oils in your diet if you have alopecia areata. Also, consider wearing eyeglasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes from sun and dust if you have lost hair from your eyebrows or eyelashes, and consider cosmetic solutions such as wigs or hairpieces to cover up hair loss. Most importantly make an appointment with dr. Rokhsar to diagnose your specific type of alopecia and to come up with a treatment plan.

New York Office Locations

Upper East Side Manhattan Office
121 East 60th Street, Suite 8AB New York, NY 10022
(212) 285-1110

Long Island Office
901 Stewart Ave, Suite 240, Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 512-7616

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About author - Dr. Cameron Rokhsar

Dr. Cameron Rokhsar

Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, MD, FAAD, FAACS, is the founder and medical director of the New York Cosmetic, Skin, & Laser Surgery Center. Dr. Rokhsar is a graduate of Harvard College and NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Rokhsar is double board certified in dermatology and micrographic dermatologic surgery, being one of the few select dermatologists in the country who is also fellowship trained in laser surgery. A researcher and innovator, Dr. Rokhsar is the creator of the non-surgical nose job and has been instrumental in the research and development of laser systems such as the Fraxel, CO2, Mirady, Vbeam, Themitight, and Ulthera devices. An Associate Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, Dr. Rokhsar actively teaches the cosmetic dermatology clinic to the resident at Mount Sinai. An expert injector of fillers, and a trainer for many companies, patients fly in from around the world to see Dr. Rokhsar in his Garden City and Manhattan offices in New York.

Learn more about Dr. Rokhsar | Dr. Rokhsar's Google Scholar