Q My hair loss has spread to more than half of my scalp. At this level, how long does treatment take and can I fully recover?
A When the loss has spread beyond the multifocal stage, treatment takes longer than for a single patch and the prognosis varies. Even so, with persistent treatment without giving up, you can expect anywhere from partial recovery to substantial improvement.
Detailed Answer
The wider the area of hair loss, the lower the chance of natural recovery, and individual differences in treatment response are large. Involvement of the entire scalp (alopecia totalis) or the universalis type with loss of body hair requires long-term treatment. However, since results vary greatly depending on when treatment begins and whether the approach matches the pattern diagnosis, it is important not to discontinue treatment even if the area is already wide.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
For wide-spread cases, we accurately determine the pattern as Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness or Liver-Kidney Deficiency and combine herbal formulas of the Chilbomiyeomdan and Samul-tang family with scalp pharmacopuncture. Following the principle that the Lung governs the skin and hair (pyeju-pimo), we also reinforce Lung and Kidney energy to create an environment for follicle regeneration.
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