Alopecia is the medical term for a loss of hair on your body. Most people think of alopecia as only affecting the scalp, but alopecia can actually cause hair anywhere on your body to fall out, including your eyebrows. There are several reasons why your eyebrows may get thin or fall out including: illness, skin conditions, over-plucking, or as a side effect of chemotherapy. However, the biggest cause of eyebrow loss is alopecia.
1 – The Causes of Alopecia
Many people believe that alopecia is an autoimmune disease, but little is known about autoimmune diseases in general. The general definition of an autoimmune disease is that it is a condition in which your immune system gets confused and attacks healthy cells. In the case of alopecia, your immune system confuses your hair follicles for a foreign body and attempts to kill them, causing your hair to fall out.
2 – Genetics May Raise Your Chances of Developing Alopecia
Anyone can have alopecia because autoimmune diseases do not discriminate. However, if one or both of your parents have alopecia or an autoimmune disease, you are more likely to develop alopecia.
3 – Regrowth is Possible with Treatment
Alopecia does not necessarily mean that your hair is gone for good. Depending on the severity of the disease, you may be able to regrow your hair over a few months or a few years. People who have alopecia that affects less than 50 percent of their scalp have a greater chance of regrowth than those with a more severe condition. You cannot predict how much hair you will lose but if you pay attention to the number of bald patches, you can make a possible estimate of how much hair you may regrow. If you only have a few bald patches and can regrow your hair, you will not need any treatments because your body will regrow your hair naturally.
4 – Treatments are Available
Like most autoimmune diseases, there is no cure for alopecia. Depending on the severity of your hair loss, there are several prescription treatments available including steroids, topical treatments and minoxidil.
5 – Hair Transplants are Beneficial
Living with bald patches can be emotionally difficult, especially when these patches are prominently on your face. Some people who suffer from alopecia choose to undergo hair transplants, and these transplants can include your scalp or your eyebrows. To transplant new eyebrows, a doctor will place hundreds of tiny hair grafts onto your face. However, all patients with alopecia areata who undergo a hair transplant (usually waiting at least 2 years from when the disease becomes inactive) are advised that regrowth cannot be guaranteed.
Living with eyebrow alopecia can be a guessing game that not everyone wants to play. A loss of hair can be hard to live with emotionally, and not knowing whether it will grow back can be even harder. But with the advent of technology in eyebrow transplants, you can take back your hair and your life with the help of a trusted resource.
Dr. Jeffrey Epstein, MD FACS is a leader in his field, and as a Diplomate of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, and the American Board of Otolaryngology, patients can feel comfortable knowing that they are in excellent hands. Dr, Epstein performs several eyebrow transplants a week, and he has done so for the past decade. With offices in both New York and Miami, he is also convenient to those in the eastern United States. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Epstein in New York City, call (212) 759-3484, or for an appointment in Miami, call (305) 666-5884.