Leeches and Hair Loss: A Revolutionary Treatment for Alopecia Areata

Not only for leeches but also for alopecia areata.PerformLayouters and hair loss; A new treatment from hell

Alopecia areata is a confusing and sometimes upsetting disease which results in rapid hair loss, generally on the scalp or anywhere else. This can occur when the body attacks itself, as with an autoimmune condition that causes hair follicles to be mistaken for “foreign invaders” on which open season is declared and they are targeted for elimination. Although conventional treatments comprised of corticosteroids, topical immunotherapy, and minoxidil are used more regularly than ever before; a different but quite encouraging approach has also arisen – leech therapy. What used to be a practice from ancient times is making its return in the modern era and showing promise for alopecia areata.

Understanding Alopecia Areata

Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms:

Reprinted from Triggers, F. Ancarola (2021) Unexplained hair loss with well-demarcated ovaloid lesions

Tingling, prickly feeling in affected area

Hair loss in other regions like eyebrows, eyelashes and beard

Causes:

Hair follicles under autoimmune attack by the immune system.

Genetic predisposition

These factors are stress, infections and the environment

Conventional Treatments for Alopecia Areata

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications that can be used topically directly on the skin, injected into the scalp by injection or taken orally to help reduce inflammation and control hair follicles.

Topical Immunotherapy

This treatment involves the application of chemicals (such as diphencyprone, DPCP) on to your scalp which causes a local allergic response leading to some hair re-growth.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil, also known by its brand names Rogaine and Regaine is a topical solution that helps increase blood flow to hair follicles in the scalp.

The Leech: An Alternative to The Needle

SourceLeech therapy aka hirudotherapy is an ancient practice used for curing a variety of diseases from hundreds of years. It has seen some interest in treating hair and scalp conditions, including Alopecia Areata over the years.

How Leech Therapy Works

An extensive array of biologically active substances in their saliva ranging from

Hirudin — an anticoagulant that enhances blood flow.

Calin: A second blood feeder anticoagulant 2.

Hyaluronidase: An enzyme which eases the diffusion of other substances across tissues.

Anti-inflammatory compounds —such as…

Leaches, when applied to the scalp seem for nourishing on blood draw and produced these beneficial extracts into the system. This process can enhance the flow of blood, diminish soreness while it regenerates hair growth.

Advantages Of Leech Therapy For Alopecia areata

Better Circulation: Improved blood circulation to the sites can supply hair follicles with more nutrients and help them grow.

Antarceins: the enzymes that leeches secrete into a wound can have anti-inflammatory effects too, making its saliva potentially useful for slowing down conditions like alopecia areata which involve inflammation caused by an improperly regulated immune response to certain cells in the body.

Leaches detoxification: Benefit in cleaning out scalp, facilitating a full clearance of unwanted stuff deployed from our surroundings/pollution and maintenance to an ultra- healthy hair.

Evidence from Science and Case-builded Data

While additional research is needed to establish with certainty whether leech therapy can be effective in treating alopecia areata, a number of case reports and anecdotal evidence provide some promising results. With this process, more than 300 patients had almost hair and scalp human age respectively compared to the placebo group.

Safety and Considerations

To perform leech therapy, professional and technical expertise is required to manage it properly. There will be an extensive consultation to see if you are a candidate (as there certain medical conditions/medications that may not allow use of leeches,).

Leech Therapy for Treated Conditions

Alopecia Areata: Leech therapy helps to stimulate hair growth in alopecic areas.

Scalp Psoriasis — The anti-inflammatory properties present in leech saliva may help treat symptoms of scalp psoriasis.

Telogen Effluvium: Due to the improvement in blood circulation and stress reduction, leech therapy can act as a supplement during hair regrowth after an episode of telogen effluvium.

Preventative Tips and Home Remedies

While leech therapy is a novel treatment for alopecia areata, healthy scalp and hair growth should not be overlooked. Here are some tips:

Eat Right: Proper nutrition contributes to the health of your hair with a balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals. Biotin, vitamin D and iron are three nutrients that directly contribute to hair growth.

Maintain Regular Scalp Hygiene: Washing the scalp with best shampoos, helps in keeping it clean and minimizes the risk of infection. Using too many hair products is another way to end up with buildup and the resulting itchiness.

Do Not Use Severe Treatment: Build up your skin-head to hair root strength so that chemicals, heat styling tools and tight hairstyles do not inflict damage.