The most common complaint among young and middle-aged individuals is, “My hair is so sparse.” Some may suddenly notice a patch of hair loss, exposing the scalp that was previously covered. This condition is commonly known as ban tu (alopecia areata). Once this condition is observed, it is crucial to pay attention and seek treatment promptly; without intervention, the area of hair loss may expand, leading to a prolonged prognosis.
1. Alopecia Areata:
This is a non-scarring hair loss disease, commonly occurring on the scalp, and any hairy area can be affected. It often presents as sudden round or oval patches of hair loss, and the natural course of the disease is unpredictable. Alopecia areata can occur at any age, but it is more prevalent among young and middle-aged individuals, affecting both men and women. The factors contributing to alopecia are complex and can be summarized as genetic factors, autoimmune factors, allergic factors, and neuropsychological factors.
2. Treatment of Alopecia Areata:
Western medicine typically employs local or systemic application of hormones and other medications. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment methods include acupuncture, plum blossom needle therapy, moxibustion, and fire needling. Among these, fire needling therapy involves using specific needles, which are heated over an alcohol lamp, and then quickly applied to selected areas and acupuncture points for treatment.
3. Fire Needling Therapy:
1. Disinfect the affected skin area with iodine. First, use a medium-thick fire needle. The practitioner holds the alcohol lamp in the left hand and the needle in a pen-like grip in the right hand. Heat the needle until it turns red and white, then quickly perform shallow punctures into the affected skin, each for about 0.5 seconds, inserting approximately 1mm. Puncture from the edge of the hair loss area towards the center, breaking the skin without going too deep, allowing any stagnant blood to flow out until it stops. This should be done once a week, with a course of treatment lasting 4 to 8 sessions.
4. Precautions:
1. Individuals who are overly stressed, hungry, fatigued, or intoxicated should avoid fire needling.
2. Caution is advised for those with scar constitutions when using fire needling.
3. After fire needling, the local skin may exhibit mild redness, burning, slight swelling, and itching, which are normal phenomena and generally do not require treatment as they will resolve on their own.
4. Keep the treated area dry and clean after fire needling.
5. Avoid raw and cold foods during the treatment period.
6. Fire needling is contraindicated for individuals with coagulation disorders or poorly controlled diabetes.
7. Do not wash hair for three days to keep it dry.
Case Sharing
Treatment Before
End of Fire Needling Treatment
Fire Needling Marks Gradually Fade
Effects After Approximately 6 Treatments
5. Efficacy of Fire Needling in Treating Alopecia Areata:
1. Fire needling combines acupuncture and moxibustion; acupuncture can harmonize yin and yang, unblock meridians, and regulate organ functions; moxibustion can warm and unblock meridians. The combination of both can ensure smooth blood flow, expel pathogenic factors.
Fire needling must be performed with precision, heat, and speed. The fire needle punctures the skin in the alopecia area, causing small burn-like spots on the epidermis, stimulating scalp blood vessel dilation, producing a large number of inflammatory factors, improving blood circulation in the alopecia area, ensuring blood supply to hair follicles, reducing local scalp inflammation, and promoting hair growth.
2. Consistency in treatment is crucial. Alopecia areata is a chronic skin condition that requires about 1-3 years for treatment, with patients experiencing total hair loss often needing 1-3 years for recovery. Alongside fire needling, taking herbal medicine for internal adjustment is essential to ensure hair regrowth and prevent further loss. Patients with alopecia areata should also focus on adjusting their emotional state and lifestyle habits, eliminating negative emotions, maintaining an optimistic attitude, and building confidence in their treatment.
Written by: Luo Xiaohua
Edited by: Zhang Meijin
Reviewed by: Wu Xiaoqiu
Source: Internet