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Of course, your own personal physician is the best source of
information on what treatments are best for you and your own unique,
individual circumstances. If you don't like or trust your doctor, get a
new one. Seriously.
Prescription Treatment Reviews
But there is no reason why we can't share and compare and yes, even
rate our experiences and results with different medical treatment
options. What rarely seems to work for anyone, yet is expensive and
uncomfortable, merits some real consideration before undertaking. And
those treatments that many alopecians have found to be beneficial and
could comfortably tolerate, seem to be at least worthy of a discussion
with your doctor.
And if you and your doctor are trying something new, jump on over to the forums, and let us know how it is going.
There are treatments out there. Some that really do work for a lot of
us. Let's combine our collective knowledge to further the effort of
finding ones that work for all of us.
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Product Reviews Prescription Treatments
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Description
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases defines corticosteroids and their various uses in treating alopecia like this:
Corticosteroids--Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs similar to a hormone called cortisol produced in the body. Because these drugs suppress the immune system if given orally, they are often used in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, including alopecia areata. Corticosteroids may be administered in three ways for alopecia areata:
- Local injections--Injections of steroids directly into hairless patches on the scalp and sometimes the brow and beard areas are effective in increasing hair growth in most people. It usually takes about 4 weeks for new hair growth to become visible. Injections deliver small amounts of cortisone to affected areas, avoiding the more serious side effects encountered with long-term oral use. The main side effects of injections are transient pain, mild swelling, and sometimes changes in pigmentation, as well as small indentations in the skin that go away when injections are stopped. Because injections can be painful, they may not be the preferred treatment for children. After 1 or 2 months, new hair growth usually becomes visible, and the injections usually have to be repeated monthly. The cortisone removes the confused immune cells and allows the hair to grow. Large areas cannot be treated, however, because the discomfort and the amount of medicine become too great and can result in side effects similar to those of the oral regimen.
- Oral corticosteroids--Corticosteroids taken by mouth are a mainstay of treatment for many autoimmune diseases and may be used in more extensive alopecia areata. But because of the risk of side effects of oral corticosteroids, such as hypertension and cataracts, they are used only occasionally for alopecia areata and for shorter periods of time.
- Topical ointments--Ointments or creams containing steroids rubbed directly onto the affected area are less traumatic than injections and, therefore, are sometimes preferred for children. However, corticosteroid ointments and creams alone are less effective than injections; they work best when combined with other topical treatments, such as minoxidil or anthralin.
One of these approaches is most likely the first treatment a new alopecia patient will undertake. There are differing views on exactly how effective these treatment are. If you have experience with this treatment, whether positive or negative, please take a moment to share your review with those who are considering it for themselves or their family member.
User reviews
Average user rating from: 1 user(s)
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Overall rating
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4.5 |
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4.0 |
| Effectiveness
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5.0 |
| Availability
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5.0 |
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4.0 |
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
This worked well for me for years., Friday, 15 December 2006 Written by LLrrooxx - View all my reviews - #1 Reviewer
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Overall rating
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4.5 |
| Value
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4.0 |
| Effectiveness
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5.0 |
| Availability
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5.0 |
| General Satisfaction |
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4.0 |
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Would you recommend this treatment to a friend?:
Yes
Pros: Seems to work well.
Cons: This can get expensive when you are getting treated every 3 or 4 weeks.
It was not very comfortable...to say the least.
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Disclaimer
The reviews listed in this area have been
submitted for informational use only, and their listing does not constitute or imply
endorsement, recommendation, or favouring by Team Alopecia.
This content is provided as a free service to our visitors,
and, as such, Team Alopecia cannot be held liable for the accuracy of the
information.
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Wig Site Reviews
