alopecia areata

Also known as Circumscribed alopecia, Alopecia Circumscripta, patchy loss of hair

condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body

Key facts

Other names: Alopecia Celsi, vitiligo capitis, Jonston's alopecia
Pronunciation: / ˌ æ l ə ˈ p iː ʃ ( i ) ə ˌ æ r i ˈ ɑː t ə / , also / ˌ æ l oʊ -, - s i ə -, - ˈ eɪ t ə /
Specialty: Dermatology Immunology
Symptoms: Areas of hair loss , usually on the scalp
Usual onset: Childhood
Causes: Autoimmune
Risk factors: Family history, female sex , rheumatoid arthritis , type 1 diabetes , celiac disease
Differential diagnosis: Trichotillomania , alopecia mucinosa , postpartum alopecia
Treatment: Sunscreen , head coverings to protect from sun and cold
Medication: topical minoxidil and triamcinolone injections
Prognosis: Does not affect life expectancy

Article

Alopecia areata (AA), also known as spot baldness, is a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body. It often results in a few bald spots on the scalp, each about the size of a coin. Psychological stress and illness are possible factors in bringing on alopecia areata in individuals at risk, but in most cases there is no obvious trigger. People are generally otherwise healthy. In a few cases, all the hair on the scalp is lost (alopecia totalis), or all body hair is lost (alopecia universalis). Hair loss can be permanent or temporary.

Alopecia areata is believed to be an autoimmune disease resulting from a breach in the immune privilege of the hair follicles. Risk factors include a family history of the condition. Among identical twins, if one is affected, the other has about a 50% chance of also being affected. The underlying mechanism involves failure by the body to recognize its own cells, with subsequent immune-mediated destruction of the hair follicle.