Alopecia areata symptoms

Alopecia areata is patchy hair loss caused by an attack of the body’s immune system that tends to recover completely in most patients. Hair loss is typically a single well-defined patch that is circular or oval. Along the borders of the patch, the hair is short and only a few millimeters long. In severe cases, there can be multiple patches of baldness or complete scalp baldness (alopecia totalis). Men and women are equally affected. It tends to be more common in children and adolescents. Loss of eyebrow or eyelash hair can also occur.

Patches of hair loss caused by Alopecia areata tend to occur unpredictably. Hair also tends to grow back in the following months. In some cases, hair may not grow back or the bald patches can last for years. Patients are usually healthy, but alopecia areata is more commonly found in patients with other autoimmune problems such as thyroid disease or vitiligo.