Hypnosis may help improve type of hair loss

[Celebration]

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-08-25T211416Z_01_PAR576401_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-HYPNOSIS-DC.XML

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease characterized by sudden, recurrent hair loss in round spots from the scalp or any part of the body that has hair. Psychological factors, such as stressful events and psychotrauma have also been reported to play a role in the onset of the condition, but few studies have looked at the efficacy of psychological treatments.

Willemsen's team explored hypnosis as a treatment for 21 individuals with extensive hair loss on 30 percent or more of their scalp that had lasted for at least three months. These patients, all of whom previously failed to respond to treatment with steroids, were followed for anywhere from six months to six years.


In most cases, the study participants received hypnosis along with some other medical treatment. During the hypnotherapy sessions, which took place once every three weeks, study participants were given various suggestions, such as to imagine the healing effects of the sun's warmth on their scalp.

After treatment with a minimum of just three to four sessions of hypnotherapy, 12 patients experienced hair growth on at least 75 percent of their scalp, and nine of these 12 experienced total hair growth, Willemsen and colleagues report.

[longship]

1. Your hair won't grow back, but you won't care any more...

Actually, I have "suffered" from alopecia areata. It's really horrid, actually. Your hair falls out in big chunks. It's like you have holes in your hair all over the place.

I no longer have the problem, but it took over five years to get over it. I agree, it's entirely related to psychological stresses.

[Orrex]

2. Is it similar to telogen effluvium?

I believe that's the correct spelling. A friend suffered from it years ago--she never lost clumps of hair per se, but she lost enough that overall her hair was substantially thinner.

The condition was likewise due to stress.