What is chin alopecia and its symptoms? And how can it be treated?
It is well known that alopecia areata causes bald spots on the scalp, but can these spots appear and occur in other places such as the chin for the same reason? Learn with us from the following lines about what is known as alopecia areata, the causes of its occurrence, its symptoms and signs, how it can be treated in different ways, and other important and useful information for you.
What is chin alopecia?
Chin alopecia or beard alopecia is a special condition or type of alopecia that affects the chin or beard, and this condition appears suddenly and begins with the loss of chin hair in the form of spots or circular patches.
Causes of alopecia in the chin
Chin alopecia is an autoimmune disease. During this condition, the body’s immunity attacks the hair follicles, causing the loss of chin hair in the form of spots or patches. Hair loss usually occurs in circular patches that occur along the jaw line, and in some cases all beard hair may be lost.
Although the exact causes of alopecia are not known, in some cases psychological and physical stress have been linked to the occurrence of alopecia, and genes can play a role in the infection. Having close relatives with autoimmune diseases also increases the risk of developing alopecia areata.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are certain things that increase the risk of developing alopecia areata, including:
- genes.
- Asthma and hay fever.
- eczema.
- Thyroid disease.
- Down’s syndrome.
Chin alopecia symptoms
It is not always easy to recognize and detect alopecia areata, as hair loss occurs suddenly, within several days or several weeks. Bald spots appear as small circular patches. As hair loss increases, these circular patches can coalesce and begin to overlap with each other, and sometimes the hair around the borders of these patches can be white.
The patient may feel itching or pain in the skin of the chin before hair loss, and some people may experience redness, irritation and inflammation in those bald patches on the chin.
Chin alopecia treatment
Although there is no specific treatment to get rid of chin alopecia, the treatments currently available aim to control and reduce symptoms. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the body’s response, as well as the extent of hair loss, age, and other factors.
The goal of available treatments is to prevent the immune system from attacking the hair follicles and to stimulate the regrowth of lost hair. Treatments include:
Treatment of alopecia in the chin with medication
Medications used to treat beard hair loss include:
Home remedies
There are some home remedies that can help treat hair loss in the chin, and most of these treatments are based on personal experiences, and you should consult a doctor first before trying any of them:
Treatment of alopecia in the chin with garlic
The natural properties in garlic can help improve the symptoms of alopecia areata, and although there is no specific research studying the effectiveness of garlic for beard alopecia, a 2007 study indicated that the use of garlic gel was beneficial. And people who used garlic gel along with a corticosteroid cream showed more improvement than people who used only the cream.
Zinc and biotin supplements
A healthy diet containing vitamins and minerals is essential for hair growth, and adding supplements can increase the level of zinc and biotin in the body, which will help promote hair growth and prevent hair loss.
Other treatments
The following treatments to reduce hair loss need more research and evidence about their effectiveness, so we remind you again of the need to consult a doctor first before using them. These treatments include the following:
It is worth noting that with treatment, hair growth can return again and remain, but it can fall out again. Several years may pass between periods of hair loss and its return, and it is also possible for hair to return again, but partially. The hair can return as it was, but it can grow in a different color and texture. Sometimes the hair may not grow back at all.