Synopsis
In this guide to treating Alopecia Areata, a condition that leads to hair loss in both men and women, the authors explore the largely unregulated hair restoration industry, discuss the effectiveness and side effects of various treatments, and offer emotional support to people who suffer from this disease.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1996-10-01 |
| Size | | Length: | 180 pages | | Height: | 8.8 in | | Width: | 5.8 in | | Thickness: | 0.8 in | | Weight: | 14.4 oz |
Publisher's Note
Alopecia areata is a poorly understood, unpredictable disorder that affects more than 2.5 million men, women, and children in the United States and Canada. Causing patchy hair loss on the scalp and sometimes elsewhere on the body, this mysterious, noncontagious condition can be treated, but it cannot yet be cured. Alopecia areata is considered a medically harmless condition. But psychologically, alopecia areata can be acutely painful, affecting a person's emotional well-being and sense of self. The social problems of alopecia can range from ostracism to loss of a job to divorce. Alopecia Areata: Understanding and Coping with Hair Loss is a sensitive yet straightforward guide to the diagnosis and treatment of alopecia areata. With great compassion, Wendy Thompson, M.A., and Jerry Shapiro, M.D., explain how hair loss can profoundly affect a person's quality of life. They provide medically reliable information on the latest research, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Alopecia areata is an unpredictable disorder that affects more than two and a half million men, women, and children in the United States and Canada. Causing patchy hair loss on the scalp and sometimes elsewhere on the body, this mysterious, noncontagious condition can be treated but it cannot yet be cured. Alopecia Areata: Understanding and Coping with Hair Loss is a sensitive yet straightforward guide to the diagnosis and treatment of this poorly understood disease. With great compassion, the authors explain how hair loss can profoundly affect a person's quality of life. They discuss what it means to be diagnosed with alopecia areata, and provide medically reliable information on the latest research, diagnosis, and treatment options, including: • New drug therapies and their side effects, from topical and systemic immunotherapy, to minoxidil, anthralin, and photochemotherapy • Current research on experimental treatments • Medical counsel about alternative remedies offered by a range of practitioners from naturopaths and homeopaths to those offering a "quick fix" Thompson and Shapiro also offer practical strategies for living with alopecia areata, which can go in and out of remission without any apparent reason. They discuss the physical and psychological adjustments to wearing a hairpiece and give pointers on selecting, securing, and maintaining a wig, whether human hair or synthetic, custom or ready-made. THey also discuss how to deal with insurance companies to get compensation for a hairpiece. Alopecia Areata includes a chapter devoted to the special needs of children with this condition and concludes with an epilogue that tells the story of a day in the life of a woman with alopecia areata, illustrating the various challenges she faces and the strategies she uses to cope with these challenges. With frankness, hope, and good humor, Thompson and Shapiro strive to enhance the lives of people suffering from alopecia areata and to ease the pain that comes with living in a world that often values external appearance over all else."The book is an excellent source of information about the disease and the roller coaster emotional ride that usually accompanies it. . . . A pleasure to read because of its intimate style and humor. It will go a long way in helping those with alopecia areata."—Vera H. Price, M.D., professor of dermatology, University of California, San Francisco
Industry Reviews
"This book is an excellent source of information about the disease and the roller coaster emotional ride that usually accompanies it."
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