Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the body’s own immune system targets and shuts off hair production in the hair follicles, leading to characteristic circular, coin shaped patches of hair loss. The hair loss can affect any hair bearing areas of the body including the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and beard region. The degree and severity of the condition can vary greatly. In some, it is localized with few patches of round, circular, coin shaped areas of hair loss. In more significant cases, a person can lose all the hair on their scalp (alopecia totalis), and rarely, even the hair on their entire body (alopecia universalis). Alopecia areata can be associated with nail changes including pitting and ridges. The course of the disease can be unpredictable - hair can regrow spontaneously without treatment, and new areas of hair loss can appear out of the blue. Various therapies are available ranging from topical medications to intralesional steroid injections to systemic medications.
Disclaimer:
The information on this website is provided for educational and information purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a licensed medical provider and follow their recommendations regardless of what you read on this website. If you think you are having a medical emergency, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Links to other third-party websites are provided for your convenience only. If you decide to access any of the third-party websites, you do so entirely at your own risk and subject to the terms of use for those websites. Neither Mirage Dermatology, nor any contributor to this website, makes any representation, express or implied, regarding the information provided on this website or any information you may access on a third-party website using a link. Use of this website does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you would like to request an appointment with a health care provider, please call our office at (760) 341-1999.