Patchy alopecia areata. In this type, which is the most common, hair loss happens in one or more coin-sized patches on the scalp or other parts of the body.
Most people with alopecia areata have hair loss on their head and face. You may have it in just one spot, like your beard area or just one side of your scalp. It may also affect your eyebrows, eyelashes, and nose hairs.
Alopecia areata usually presents as localized patches of hair loss on the scalp that emerge over a few weeks. However, this condition can also affect other areas, such as the beard, eyebrows, eyelashes, and extremities (see Image.
Alopecia areata causes your hair to fall out in patches. The patches are usually small and round — about the size of a quarter — but the shape and amount of hair you lose may be bigger or smaller. Your nails may also develop dents or pits (cupuliform depressions).
Hair typically falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter, but in some cases, hair loss is more extensive. Most people with the disease are healthy and have no other symptoms. The course of alopecia areata varies from person to person.
Yes, stress and hair loss can be related. Three types of hair loss can be associated with high stress levels: Telogen effluvium. In telogen effluvium (TEL-o-jun uh-FLOO-vee-um), significant stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase.
Pull Test and Tug Test
During a pull test, a dermatologist grasps small sections of hair, about 40 strands, from different parts of the scalp and gently tugs. If six or more strands fall out, you have what's known as active hair loss.
In most people, new hair eventually grows back in the affected areas, although this process can take months. Approximately 50 percent of people with mild alopecia areata recover within a year; however, most people will experience more than one episode during their lifetime.
Diffuse alopecia areata results in sudden and unexpected thinning of the hair all over the scalp. It can be hard to diagnose because it looks a lot like other forms of hair loss such as telogen effluvium or male or female pattern hair loss.
Good scalp hygiene is crucial to prevent the spread of alopecia areata as well. Use gentle shampoos and conditioners that are free from harsh chemicals. Also, avoid excessive heat styling or tight hairstyles since they can strain the hair follicles. Lastly, protect your scalp from sun exposure.
For some people, this hair loss is a one-time event. For others, alopecia areata comes and goes and can last a lifetime. Each person may have a different experience with alopecia areata. Some people may regrow hair, while others do not.
Baldness, also known as alopecia, is hair loss, or absence of hair. Hair loss is not caused by poor circulation to the scalp, dandruff, or wearing hats. Baldness is usually most noticeable on the scalp but can happen anywhere on the body where hair grows.
The easiest way to tell if alopecia areata is spreading is to regularly examine your bald spots. If they get wider over time, your condition may be getting worse. Take photos of your bald spots every 3-4 days to see if they're getting bigger. Sometimes, alopecia areata spreads by forming new bald spots.
There is no cure for alopecia areata—only treatment. In mild cases, hair usually grows back, sometimes on its own. However, if treatment is necessary, steroid injections and topical medications may be recommended. But there have been no reliably effective treatments for severe cases of alopecia areata until recently.
You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.
For many people, their hair regrows on its own without treatment. This regrowth happens more often when someone has a few patches of alopecia areata, which have been there for less than a year. Hair loss can also stop for long periods or come and go. Sometimes, hair doesn't regrow.
Hair pull test.
Allow hairs that are firmly rooted in the scalp to pass through your grasp, but maintain enough traction so that loose hairs are pulled clean. About 2-5 hairs will be pulled in a normal adult. Up to 3 or 4 times that amount will be pulled free in adults who suffer with hair loss.
No Visible Pattern. With stress-related shedding, hair falls out evenly all over your scalp instead of in a defined pattern. You'll likely notice more hairs than usual coming out while shampooing, combing, or on your pillow, clothing, and bathroom floor.
What are the signs and symptoms of alopecia areata? This disease causes sudden hair loss, which often begins as a round or oval, smooth balding patch that develops on the scalp or beard. However, hair loss can begin on any area of the body. Some people lose eyebrows, eyelashes, nostril hairs, or hair on their legs.