6. TREATING ALOPECIA AREATA WITH CHLORINE DIOXIDE

An autoimmune skin disease.

This excerpt is from my book, "The Chlorine Dioxide Miracle: Safeguarding Health with Safe and Effective Applications." If you're interested in chlorine dioxide therapy, you can purchase the book here：

Books

Alopecia areata, also known as “spot baldness,” is a common hair loss condition characterized by the sudden, unanticipated shedding of hair in one or more circular or oval areas, resulting in complete bald patches in those areas. The size of the bald patches can vary from as small as a few millimeters to as large as several centimeters.

The exact cause of alopecia areata is not fully understood at present, but it is generally believed to be related to autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly attacks normal hair follicle cells. Other possible triggering factors include genetics, stress, certain diseases, or infections.

Alopecia areata is typically self-limiting, meaning that in many cases, hair naturally regrows within a few months. However, relapses are common, and some individuals may experience cycles of hair loss and regrowth multiple times. Treatment methods may include local corticosteroids, immunotherapy, or the use of hair growth agents such as minoxidil to promote hair regrowth.

In severe cases, alopecia areata may progress to total scalp baldness (alopecia totalis) or total body hair loss (alopecia universalis). It is important to note that alopecia areata itself does not cause physical pain or discomfort, but it may have an impact on the psychological and emotional well-being of patients. Therefore, psychological support and counseling are also important components of the treatment plan for alopecia areata.

The spontaneous recovery rate of alopecia areata is approximately 80%, meaning that 80% of alopecia areata patients are able to recover hair growth within a year. However, for the remaining 20%, alopecia areata is a long-term challenge. I will present a case study on how chlorine dioxide is used to treat alopecia areata.

6.1 Case Report of Using Chlorine Dioxide to Treat Alopecia Areata

In June 2013, two patients with alopecia areata, a 38-year-old female (Patient A) and a 42-year-old male (Patient B), were hospitalized. Patient A had been experiencing the condition for four months, while Patient B for over five years. Both underwent treatment with traditional Chinese herbal medicine, both orally and topically. Additionally, Patient B received hydrocortisone injections for one year, which resulted in 80% hair regrowth. However, the alopecia recurred six months later, with an increase in the affected area.

The hair loss in Patients A and B affected approximately 50% and 60% of their scalps, respectively. Examination revealed visible hair follicles and a soft scalp in Patient A, whereas Patient B’s alopecia region was smooth, hardened, and exhibited excessive sebum production. This could be attributed to the shorter duration of alopecia in Patient A, allowing the preservation of interstitial space after hair follicle loss, in contrast to Patient B, where prolonged disease duration led to cell replacement in the interstitial space, resulting in scalp hardening and sebum overproduction. Neither patient had additional symptoms or comorbidities.

Both patients commenced treatment with oral prednisolone, administered weekly at 200 mg for three months. After two months, Patient A reported no improvement and elected to discontinue the treatment due to potential side effects concerns. Subsequently, Patient A inquired about a cosmetic product containing a 2% acid chlorine dioxide solution with a pH of 4.6, which she discovered through social media. Recognized as an oxidizing agent and used in disinfectants like mouthwash, chlorine dioxide shares chemical properties with ROS, which are implicated in type 2 diabetes prevention and inflammation-related diseases through physical activity. We posited that chlorine dioxide could emulate ROS, mediating immune responses and enhancing tissue regeneration.

Upon applying acid chlorine dioxide solution to Patient A’s alopecia region twice daily, she experienced acute pain and redness on the second day. By the sixth day, hair exposed to acid chlorine dioxide solution at the alopecia border fell out and immediately regenerated, indicating anagen phase induction in the hair follicles. This effect mirrored ROS’s role in promoting tissue regeneration. Consequently, we ceased prednisolone treatment for Patient B on day 70 and initiated acid chlorine dioxide solution treatment, observing similar hair follicle regeneration.

Patient A discontinued hospital treatment after 15 days for personal reasons. Forty days later, hair regrowth was evident in the alopecia region, and by day 70, the condition was fully resolved with no recurrences over three years, though some newly grown hair was white. Patient B underwent acid chlorine dioxide solution treatment for 100 days, ceasing once hair regrowth was observed, with no recurrences over the following three years (Figure 8).

Alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease, has an unpredictable course, with 80% of patients experiencing spontaneous hair regrowth within the first year. Traditional treatments, which typically involve immunosuppression, can have severe side effects, thereby limiting their usage. ROS-promoting agents have been effective in treating autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. We hypothesize that chlorine dioxide could replicate ROS’s immunoregulatory and tissue regenerative functions in affected tissues. The cases presented corroborate this hypothesis, with cure times varying and longer in Patient B due to the more extended disease duration and severe symptoms, suggesting that spontaneous healing was unlikely.

Despite chlorine dioxide’s current use in cosmetics and mouthwash, it has not been utilized as a therapeutic drug. The outcomes from these cases indicate its potential as a treatment for alopecia areata and other autoimmune skin diseases.

6.2 The Mechanism of Using Chlorine Dioxide to Treat Alopecia Areata

In our trials with specific cases, patients with alopecia areata for less than a year had softer scalps. This suggests that the spaces once occupied by lost hair follicles might still exist, making the scalp feel noticeably soft and even hollow when pressed. It’s this presence of follicle spaces that gives alopecia areata a roughly 80% chance of self-recovery within a year. Conversely, the treatment becomes significantly more challenging for patients whose alopecia areata has not self-healed after a year. We speculate that when follicle spaces are still present, regrowth of follicles is relatively easier. For patients with alopecia areata lasting over a year, their scalps have hardened and become oilier, indicating a lack of space for new follicle growth. The original follicle spaces may have been overtaken by sebaceous gland cells, making it difficult for new follicles to regenerate.

In our therapeutic practice, we’ve also observed a pattern: patients with alopecia areata within a year have a greater likelihood of hair recovery; those with the condition for over a year require more time for hair regrowth. Hence, we believe that the tissue regenerative properties of chlorine dioxide are beneficial for the recovery of hair in alopecia areata patients. We further hypothesize that chlorine dioxide might kill and clear some of the existing scalp cells through its oxidizing action, creating space for follicle regeneration, thereby promoting the regrowth of hair follicles.

Extensive trials have shown that chlorine dioxide can reduce the inflammatory response in wounds. Whether in acne, wounds caused by plum blossom needle tapping on the head, or in mouse tail amputation wounds, no inflammation was observed when treated with a chlorine dioxide solution. I have personally experienced immediate relief from arthritis symptoms after about ten injections of a chlorine dioxide solution (various formulations) near the hip joint, which may also be due to the anti-inflammatory effects of chlorine dioxide.

We postulate that the potential mechanism by which chlorine dioxide reduces inflammation involves two aspects: firstly, chlorine dioxide can clear foreign bodies and antigens from the body through its oxidizing action, naturally reducing the immune system’s inflammatory response; secondly, chlorine dioxide has properties similar to ROS, which are one of the key factors in the immune system’s inflammatory response. When chlorine dioxide enters body tissues, such as inflamed follicle spaces, it may replace the role of ROS, sending normal signals to the immune system, preventing the escalation of the immune response and instead diminishing its activity. This is manifested as a reduction in inflammation.

In terms of modulating immune responses, chlorine dioxide seems to block the immune system’s pathway of attacking hair follicles, which is the primary mechanism of action in treating alopecia areata. Additionally, in the treatment of other autoimmune skin diseases, we have observed similar effects of chlorine dioxide in reducing inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration.

6.3 Alopecia Areata Treatment Protocol

A. To prepare chlorine dioxide:

Weigh out 100 grams of sodium chlorite solid (powder form, 80% purity, with the remaining 20% being sodium chloride) and mix it into 900 milliliters of deionized water (or distilled water). Heat the mixture to about 50 degrees Celsius until the solid is completely dissolved, then cool it to room temperature to create an 8% sodium chlorite solution.

Weigh out 200 grams of citric acid solid (analytically pure, 99.9% purity) and add it to 800 milliliters of deionized water (or distilled water). Heat the mixture to about 50 degrees Celsius until the solid is completely dissolved, forming a 20% citric acid solution.

Mix equal volumes of the two solutions prepared above and wait for about 5 minutes to produce an acidic chlorine dioxide saturated solution (approximately 3000 ppm or 3 mg/mL).

B. Prepare a certain amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO):

Prepare DMSO, primarily to assist the penetration of chlorine dioxide near the hair follicles. In two cases of alopecia areata, using a standard chlorine dioxide mixture alone showed no visible change at the affected sites. Thus, the method was adapted to include a step mixing with DMSO. With this new method, cases of alopecia areata that previously showed no response were effectively treated.

C. Application method for treating alopecia areata:

When using the acidic chlorine dioxide solution to treat alopecia areata, first apply the solution to the affected area with a cotton swab and leave it for about 30 minutes. Then, add an equal amount of DMSO to the acidic chlorine dioxide solution and apply the mixed solution to the affected area with a new cotton swab. Perform this treatment twice daily, using only the acidic chlorine dioxide solution for the first application and the mixture with DMSO for the second.

It is important to note that both applications may cause intense pain, so patients should be mentally prepared before starting this treatment protocol. It is generally recommended that patients with alopecia areata continue the treatment twice daily for 10 consecutive days. If the pain becomes unbearable, the number of treatment days can be reduced. After treating for one month, take a one-month break, then continue the treatment in the same manner if desired.