Nobody likes losing hair.
Thinning hair, receding hairlines, pattern baldness – all these conditions can be distressing. We feel less attractive, we feel older, and sometimes we feel like there’s nothing we can do! While most of us will experience some degree of thinning or balding as we age, individuals with alopecia areata and cancer-related alopecia may experience significant hair loss.
Thankfully, advances in science may be able to help. If you’re experiencing alopecia or worried about natural hair loss as you age, low-level light therapy could be your savior!
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Understanding Alopecia
Generally speaking, the term alopecia refers to any kind of hair loss. The causes of alopecia are varied. Some people inherit a ‘baldness gene,’ while others do not.
In many cases, alopecia is just part of aging. Fluctuations in your hormones, medical concerns, and even some medications can also contribute to hair loss or alopecia. While most prevalent in men, many women experience these issues as well.
However, alopecia areata and cancer-related alopecia are different. First off, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder where your immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing you to lose patches of hair. Typically starting in kids and young adults, alopecia areata may cause sudden and noticeable round bald patches to develop.
Alopecia areata does not discriminate based on age, race, or gender. It can occur wherever hair grows on the body.
Unlike alopecia areata, cancer-related alopecia only affects individuals with cancer or undergoing cancer treatments. Blood cancers are most likely to cause this kind of alopecia, but more often, the hair loss is caused by chemotherapy and radiation.
But here’s the good news! With effective treatments, your hair can regrow or even stop falling out entirely. Low-level light therapy is