Alopecia means hair loss. When a person has the medical condition called alopecia areata, hair falls out in round patches on any hair-bearing regions of the body.
Both men and women of all ages and races can develop alopecia areata, but onset often occurs in childhood. Alopecia areata can progress to cause alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis. The term alopecia areata is used when there are round patches of hair loss. Alopecia totalis refers to loss of all scalp hair, and alopecia universalis is the loss of all scalp and body hair. Alopecia areata is a highly unpredictable and cyclical condition. The affected hair follicles become very small and produce no visible hair above the skin’s surface. Hair can grow back in or fall out again at any time, and the disease course is different for each person. In all cases, hair regrowth may occur at any time, even without treatment and after many years.
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Normally the immune system protects the body against infection and disease. In an autoimmune disease, the body 's immune system attacks some part of your own body. In alopecia areata, the immune system attacks the hair follicles. Anyone can develop alopecia areata; however, your chances of having alopecia areata are slightly greater if you have a relative with the disease. Alopecia areata is not contagious. It occurs more frequently in people who have affected family members, suggesting heredity may be a factor. In addition, it occurs more often among people who have family members with autoimmune disorders such as diabetes or thyroid disease. In the present, there is no cure for alopecia areata, although the hair may return by itself. There are various treatments, which are most effective in milder cases, but none are universally