Tuesday, December 28, 2010

How Vitamin Deficiency Causes Sudden Thyroid Alopecia Areata and How it Can Be Treated

Vitamins are essential for a good number of body and organ functions. One particular organ that is affected by low vitamin supply is the thyroid gland. When the thyroid gland is supplied with not enough vitamins, it cannot synthesize adequate amounts of the thyroid hormone. This will be characterized by low levels of the hormone in the blood, which signals a condition known as hypothyroidism.

The thyroid gland is responsible for releasing signals in the form of hormones that trigger the production of keratin by keratinocytes in hair follicles, as well as the melanocytes to start secreting melanin. When this happens, it causes a type of baldness that is called alopecia areata, which can cause loss of hair on any part of the body. The actual cause of this condition is not fully understood and it has also been linked to autoimmune disorders.

Alopecia areata causes small patches of hair loss to appear on areas like the scalp. We are going to look at how vitamin deficiency alopecia can be treated. Common treatments for such a condition is to try and reverse the disease by supplying the body with vitamin supplements, some of which we are going to talk about as well as explaining the role they play in hair growth.

Vitamin A supplements can be used. Vitamin A is an antioxidant which plays a role in the production of sebum on the scalp. It is recommended that a patient takes a daily dosage of 5.000 IU. The next vitamin that is necessary for hair growth is Vitamin B2.

This vitamin is stored in little quantities in the body and therefore it has to be constantly replenished from the diet. The vitamin is necessary in the use of oxygen and metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids and carbohydrates which all play important roles in hair growth.

When the vitamin is deficient significant hair loss is observed. It is recommended that patients get a daily dosage of 1.6mg for men and 1,2mg for women. The other vitamin that is considered necessary is Vitamin B6. This vitamin is involved in the formation of melanin and is also involved in the reduction of stress in the nervous system. Vitamin B6 is recommended at a daily dosage of 1.6mg.

Vitamin supplementation will surely boost hair growth in the patchy areas caused by alopecia areata. In certain cases when the hair loss is severe hair replacement drugs can be used to speed up recovery of hair. Common drugs include finasteride, avodart, and minoxidil. These drugs target the hair follicle, improve oxygen supply to the hair follicle, and inhibit enzymes that promote the formation of compounds that cause the loss of hair.

If the extent of hair loss was severe, hair transplant surgery may also be considered. All these methods of hair replacement will only prove effective if the body is supplied with proper nourishment. Drugs for hair treatment are not supplements and therefore they only promote hair growth, and if the building blocks are absent, no hair will grow.

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