Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a lifelong autoimmune disorder. Hair loss may come and go, but the autoimmune disorder is not self-correcting. At this time, there is no cure.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the person's immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss. Alopecia areata is typically characterized by patches of hair loss that come and go, whereas Alopecia totalis is the loss of all the hair on the scalp, Alopecia universalsis is the loss of all the scalp and body hair (including eyelashes and eyebrows), and scarring alopecia includes painful scarring in addition to hair loss. An estimated 2 percent of the population is at risk of developing Alopecia areata. Among that group, an estimated 20 percent develop Alopecia totalis or Alopecia universalis.

"Alopecia" is a general medical term for "hair loss". There are numerous other conditions and triggers for hair loss in addition to the autoimmune disorder that is Alopecia areata, A. totalis, or A. universalis. Alopecia areata is a lifelong autoimmune disorder. Hair loss may come and go, but the autoimmune disorder is not self-correcting. At this time, there is no cure.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the person's immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss. Alopecia areata is typically characterized by patches of hair loss that come and go, whereas Alopecia totalis is the loss of all the hair on the scalp, Alopecia universalsis is the loss of all the scalp and body hair (including eyelashes and eyebrows), and scarring alopecia includes painful scarring in addition to hair loss. An estimated 2 percent of the population is at risk of developing Alopecia areata. Among that group, an estimated 20 percent develop Alopecia totalis or Alopecia universalis.

"Alopecia" is a general medical term for "hair loss". There are numerous other conditions and triggers for hair loss in addition to the autoimmune disorder that is Alopecia areata, A. totalis, or A. universalis.