Alopecia and Doctor Visits Co-pays

Photo credit: www.aocd.org

Pictured above is Alopecia Areata.  It is categorized by a bald patch or patches - big or small in any area of the head or body.  It can be seen in children at any age as well as adults.  Apparently, one's own body or genetics can trigger it, and it may disappear on its own later.

My reason for writing this article is because people globally are experiencing "balding" or "thinning" and they are running to the dermatologist paying expensive co-pays just to be told "you have alopecia."

Well, excuse me, alopecia means "hair loss."  Who needs to pay a specialist $50 for five minutes of precious time just to be told "you have hair loss." Patients can see that they have hair loss which is why they came in- remember?  The question is why do they have hair loss?

Unfortunately, in most cases, the specialist can only guess and prescribe some topical treatment.  For many patients, the doctor visit feels like a "waste of money and time."

First of all, I suggest people make sure that the bald patch is NOT a ringworm.  If it is not a parasite, then alopecia can be triggered by traction such as 

1. wearing a baseball cap or hat too much,
2. braids that look good, but are too heavy for the person's fine hair
3. headbands with teeth that irritate the scalp as it moves or
4. wigs or hairpieces with comb attachment that irritate the scalp as it moves.

Other alopecia can be caused by 

1. stress, 
2. allergic reactions to a chemical or a hairdressing, 
3. post-pregnancy or 
4. possibly an imbalanced diet such as the Atkins Diet for months past what is recommended.

People really should try to eliminate all possible causes of hair loss.  It can save you a co-pay.

Also, there used to be a shot that can administered to the bald patch and a hard thump to get the circulation going in the area . . .  I was told about this by a friend, but it was a solution over 20 years ago.  It may be a lost "solution" that did not get past down.  I don't know, but I had a friend that swore by it.

On a separate note, dermatologists are good for diagnosing scalp and skin conditions such as

1. eczema
2. psoriasis
3. dermatitis
4. dandruff and so on.

As for a custom hair maintenance regimen that is separate from scalp disorders, a cosmetologist who is well experienced with various different hair types and races can better recommend shampoos and conditioners to deliver the style that you are looking for.

Review: Nioxin hair products for thinning hair

The Nioxin line has been around for several years. It has been reformulated in recent years. According to the class that I took about four years ago, this product line is focussed on a healthy scalp. A healthy scalp assists in optimum hair growth.

Over the years, I have received repeated feedback that if you discontinue using this product line, the hair condition will return to its original thinness or worst.

Many hairstylists have become wary of this line as well as other "thinning hair" brands; however, I believe that many dermatologists are still recommending it.

I believe there are a few products such as a "follicle booster" in the Nioxin line that will enhance your hair growth without becoming a slave to the whole line.


Their shampoo is called a "cleanser." Their conditioner is called "scalp therapy."

If you are experiencing shedding or thinning, please consider the ceramic/ionic flat irons as a source of your dilemna. I have written separate articles on the dangers of flat irons.

If you are not flat ironing, then please consider sensitive scalp/no lye relaxers as a possible source. Those relaxers typically are calcium hydroxide based and can become unstable shortly after being mixed. Over the years of continued use, sensitive scalp relaxers can begin to thin the hair.

Also, if your hair is breaking at the ends verus thinning, then I re-emphasize that the Nioxin line is more like a medication for the scalp versus healing existing hair strands.

There are a lot of product lines out there. Please make an informed decision when buying a "medicated" product line or hair product.

Seeking a Dermatalogist for Hair?

Black women, if you decide that you need a medical opinions on your hair and/or scalp, please schedule with a Black dermatologist.

Most of the White dermatologists are only going to tell you something like "you have midshaft fragility." Or "You need to cut all of your hair off and come out of the relaxers." or "Don't braid your hair too tight."

Do we really need to pay a White dermatologist to tell us something that we could have "guessed" on our own? Some of the White dermatologists have went as far as instructing how to put in your own relaxer and touching your cornrows to tell you how tight a braid should be.

Most dermatologists are not cosmetologists, and most White dermatologists have not braided hair in their life.

Please by all means go to a dermatologist that has hair texture closer to your texture, and if you don't know if they have kinky hair or not, then ask at the time that you are making an appointment. It may take a few months to get scheduled with a Black dermatologist because they are not as plentiful; but I would trust their opinion on hair and scalp before I would trust a White dermatologist.

Please understand that I am not being racist; but I am discriminatory when it comes to Black hair.