Alopecia areata is the name given to an autoimmune skin disease which results in loss of hair. The first signs are usually fairly small smooth patches on one’s scalp. Over time, these can develop into total hair loss.
It is estimated that around two per cent of people suffer from alopecia areata to some degree, meaning it is quite a common problem. Troublingly for sufferers, progress is unpredictable and often occurs in cycles. This means that a period of hair regrowth can be followed by another bout of loss, which can prove extremely dispiriting.
However, it is also worth noting that in all forms of alopecia areata, hair follicles remain alive, meaning the return of normal hair production is always possible. Hair might regrow even without treatment and even if the sufferer has not had hair for many years.
Alopecia is generally classified into one of three types. Alopecia areata is the most common and this is the form where hair loss is patchy. Alopecia areata totalis refers to cases where all the hair on the scalp is lost. Finally, Alopecia totalis is the term used when all hair is lost on both the scalp and the body.