Alopecia Areata is a condition where hair falls out in small, round patches.It usually happens on the scalp but can also affect the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, or other parts of the body.
“Alopecia” means hair loss, and “areata” means it shows up in random spots.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition, which means your body’s defense system (which usually fights off germs) mistakenly attacks your hair roots, causing the hair to fall out.
No, not at all. You can’t catch alopecia areata from anyone. It’s not due to an infection, and it’s not spread through contact.
Anyone men, women, and children - can get alopecia areata,but you're more likely to have it if:
You're a child
Someone in your family has had alopecia areata
You or your family have other autoimmune diseases like diabetes, lupus, or thyroid problems
It often starts before the age of 30 but can happen at any age.
There are different types of alopecia areata, depending on how much hair you’ve lost and where it happens:
Alopecia areata totalis: All the hair on your scalp is gone
Alopecia areata universalis: All the hair on your scalp and body is gone
Ophiasis alopecia areata: You lose hair in a band around the lower back and sides of your scalp
It usually starts with:
The most common sign of alopecia areata is patchy hair loss-you might see round, bald spots on your scalp
about the size of a coin or bigger
Hair loss can happen quickly and might come with itching or a burning feeling in those spots
In more serious cases, a person can lose all the hair on their head or all the hair on their body
Some people also get changes in their nails, like small dents (pitting) or ridges
Sometimes, the bald patches might also:
Change color (look red, purple, brown, or gray)
Show tiny openings where hairs used to grow
Have black dots (dead hairs stuck in the follicles)
Grow short hairs shaped like exclamation marks—thicker at the top, thinner at the bottom
Doctors don’t know the exact cause of alopecia areata, but it’s likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
You’re more likely to get due to family history
It’s also linked to other autoimmune diseases like vitiligo, lupus, and eczema (atopic dermatitis)
There’s no permanent “cure,” but there are treatments to help the hair grow back faster:
Anti-inflammatory drugs: These can be injected into the scalp, taken as pills, or rubbed onto the skin to help reduce inflammation.
Topical treatments that stimulate hair growth
Phototherapy (light therapy) or pills: Special lamps use ultraviolet light to treat alopecia areata. Sometimes, a drug called psoralen is added to help with skin and nail issues, including hair loss
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment: This treatment involves taking blood from your body, processing it, and injecting it into your scalp to encourage hair growth
Topical immunotherapy: An allergen is rubbed onto your skin to cause a mild allergic reaction, which can stimulate hair growth
Styling techniques: you can use hairstyles, wigs, or hair weaves to hide hair loss, Consult your Dermatologist for the treatment required accordingly.
No — it’s not life-threatening.
It only affects the hair and not your overall health. But it can be emotionally challenging, especially when hair loss is visible.
Yes — alopecia areata can be unpredictable. Hair may fall out, grow back, and fall out again. The pattern can vary from person to person. Sometimes the new hair grows back white or lighter in color at first.
Not really, there isn’t any way to prevent alopecia areata. Since it’s an autoimmune issue, it can happen even if you’re doing everything “right.”
Managing stress, eating well, and treating any other health conditions might help reduce flare-ups.
Treatments can reduce your symptoms. If you have alopecia areata, it may come and go throughout your life.
People with alopecia areata can use different cosmetic and protective techniques to care for themselves and feel more comfortable:
Use makeup to help cover bald spots
Wear sunglasses if you’ve lost your eyelashes, to protect your eyes from sun, dust, and wind
Cover your head with wigs, hats, or scarves to protect it from the sun and cold
Eat a healthy, balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and protein—this helps support hair health
Avoid fad diets and home remedies, which can make hair loss worse
Consult your dermatologist for taking vitamin D, which may help your body and hair
Hair helps protect us from the sun and wind, and eyelashes keep dirt out of our eyes. If you have alopecia areata, you’ll need to take extra care to protect your skin and eyes when you’re outside.
Stress might be a factor. Although it’s not proven, many people say their hair loss started after stressful events, like family issues, work problems, accidents, or surgeries
Harsh hair products can make it worse, especially things like chemical straighteners or perms. Talk to your dermatologist and use gentle shampoos and conditioners that don’t have silicones or parabens.
Consult a skin specialist (Dermatologist) as soon as you notice hair loss. After you start treatment, call your doctor if:
You get new symptoms
Your hair doesn’t start to grow back or the condition doesn’t improve
The bald spots look infected (the skin turns red, purple, gray, or white, or becomes swollen or irritated)
Alopecia Areata is a common, non-contagious condition where your own immune system causes patchy hair loss. While there's no cure, treatments can help, and many people grow their hair back over time.
Disclaimer: This article is only for general patient information and is not intended for self medication. There is no legal liability of IADVL arising out of any adverse consequence to the patient. Subsequent to its use for self treatment of the disease images adjust for the depiction of the condition and is not to be used for any other purpose.
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