Hair Loss Awareness Month: Alopecia Areata

In light of hair loss awareness month, we are going to review a type of hair loss that has become more prominent in the recent years. This condition is called Alopecia Areata.

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune skin disease that causes loss of hair on the body in both men women. It usually occurs as one or two small, round, smooth patches on the scalp or else where and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia Totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia Universalis). It occurs in both men and women of all ages, but young persons are affected most often.

It affects about 6.5 million people in the United States. The disease is unpredictable, hair can grow back in or fall out again at any time. In Alopecia Areata, the affected hair follicles slow down production drastically, above the surface of the skin for months or years. This condition may be temporary and the affected hair may regrow back. The scalp is the most common area affected, however it can also affect beard in men, or any hair bearing site.

In some people the condition spreads until all hair in the scalp is lost, this is called Alopecia Totalis. In other cases in can spread and affect all hair on the entire body, this is called Alopecia Universalis. No matter how widespread the hair loss is, the hair follicles remain alive below the skin surface, and the possibility of hair growth remains.

To find out more about these conditions call us at (949)219-0027 for a free consultation.