The Facts About Alopecia Areata

Kenny English28 Jun, 2023Health

This form of irregular hair loss ? on the scalp and sometimes elsewhere on the body ? has incomplete understanding and treatment. But some can be reversed. While it can take several forms ? simple coin-size patches of hair loss in the scalp, complete loss of hair on the scalp (alopecia totalis), a total loss of hair on the head and body (alopecia universalis), and some combinations of the above to varying degrees ? alopecia areata is believed to be caused by an autoimmune disorder. This occurs when the body?s immune system attacks a healthy body part (in this case, hair follicles) as it would a foreign and harmful invader (such as a virus). The cause is probably a combination of genetics and environmental factors, although variances between individuals make a definitive, scientifically valid finding elusive.