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What Does A Small Bald Spot On Front Of The Head Indicate?
Question: I have a small bald spot developing in the front of my head. I have had this problem twice before and I have consulted doctors and the hair have grown back. Hair normally from a very small spot fall and the skin there becomes totally exposed.
Brief Answer:
Alopecia areata, need long term treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I understand your concern regarding your skin problem and I hope I am able to help you in the same .
You seem to be developing alopecia areata.
Now this is basically an autoimmune skin condition in which there is recurrent development of patches of hair loss.
You need to apply a topical steroid cream like cortisone over the affected areas twice a day .
This will help in regrowth of hair. But in case the hair regrowth does not occur or the patch increase in size or you develop more such patches, then you might need treatment with oral steroids.
Dr Geetika Paul
Alopecia areata, need long term treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I understand your concern regarding your skin problem and I hope I am able to help you in the same .
You seem to be developing alopecia areata.
Now this is basically an autoimmune skin condition in which there is recurrent development of patches of hair loss.
You need to apply a topical steroid cream like cortisone over the affected areas twice a day .
This will help in regrowth of hair. But in case the hair regrowth does not occur or the patch increase in size or you develop more such patches, then you might need treatment with oral steroids.
Dr Geetika Paul
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Is there a permanent treatment for this condition, so that it doesn't reoccur?
Brief Answer:
Alopecia areata, treat the lesions
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
This disease has a slight tendency to recur in few people. In case you develop a new spot after few months only, then we prefer not to give any oral medicines. In such cases, we treat only with topical drugs.
However in case there are multiple lesions and they are progressively increasing, then there is a need to give oral steroids.
But since in your case, you are developing single lesions once in a while, so I do not think there is any need of oral steroid therapy . Actually this disease has a variable course and it is really difficult to comment whether woe would develop more such patches or not. But the best thing is to treat them as soon as you see them developing .
Dr Geetika Paul
Alopecia areata, treat the lesions
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
This disease has a slight tendency to recur in few people. In case you develop a new spot after few months only, then we prefer not to give any oral medicines. In such cases, we treat only with topical drugs.
However in case there are multiple lesions and they are progressively increasing, then there is a need to give oral steroids.
But since in your case, you are developing single lesions once in a while, so I do not think there is any need of oral steroid therapy . Actually this disease has a variable course and it is really difficult to comment whether woe would develop more such patches or not. But the best thing is to treat them as soon as you see them developing .
Dr Geetika Paul
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Are there any kind of precautions which I can observe routinely which may keep the hair healthy?
Brief Answer:
Hair care in alopecia areata
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
As far as your problem of alopecia areata is concerned, as I told you , nothing much can be done to stop the development of new lesions. This problem gets better by itself only in most people.
But for case of hair, you can continue to use a good shampoo and conditioner . Even hair oil can be applied once in a while. All this will not really affect the course of the problem.
Dr Geetika Paul
Hair care in alopecia areata
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
As far as your problem of alopecia areata is concerned, as I told you , nothing much can be done to stop the development of new lesions. This problem gets better by itself only in most people.
But for case of hair, you can continue to use a good shampoo and conditioner . Even hair oil can be applied once in a while. All this will not really affect the course of the problem.
Dr Geetika Paul
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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