Alopecia Treatment in Orlando, FL

Dermatologist in Dr. Phillips

You don’t have to fight alopecia alone. For patients in the Orlando area, Dr. Dean Goodless and the team at Goodless Dermatology are here to help. To get started with treatment, give us a call at (407) 566-1616 or request an appointment through our secure online form. We have two state-of-the-art dermatology clinics conveniently located in Dr. Phillips and Celebration.

What is Alopecia?

The term alopecia means hair loss, but when one is diagnosed with a medical condition associated with alopecia it can be grouped into three main types: alopecia areata (hair loss in patches), alopecia totalis (lose all hair on the scalp), alopecial universalis (lose all hair on the body).

Because alopecia is an autoimmune disease, your immune system essentially attacks healthy hair follicles by mistake. This can happen in a very short period, even just a few days.

What are the Symptoms of Alopecia?

The symptoms of alopecia will depend on the type and location it has affected. However, some common symptoms include:

• Hair loss in patches
  •  This is most common in alopecia areata, and may begin with small, quarter-sized, smooth patches. This will often come on quickly and become recognized after seeing hair in the shower or your bed.
  • This can happen in several spots on your body, but most often occurs on the head and face areas.
• Splitting and thinning fingernails and toenails
• White spots on fingernails and toenails. 
• Rigid or bumpy fingernails and toenails. 
• Random white hairs, mostly in patches
• Exclamation mark hairs
  • These are hairs that grow around the bald spots, but get narrower at the bottom.

What is the Treatment for Alopecia in Celebration, FL?

There is not a specific cure for alopecia currently, but there are several treatment options that may help grow hair quicker. The most commonly used treatment option is corticosteroids, which can be given by your dermatologist via a shot or applied via a topical ointment, cream, or lotion.

There are other medications like Minoxidil (for hair growth), Anthralin (for immune function of the skin), and Diphencyprone (inflammation fighter) that may help with some of the other symptoms. Often these solutions will need multiple doses to be effective.

If you are experiencing alopecia, it’s important to take other forms of protection such as sunblock, ointment inside the nose, and headwear and sunglasses to protect your skin from the sun.