What is Alopecia

Alopecia (also known as alopecia areata) is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease characterized by sudden loss of hair on the scalp, beard, and sometimes eyebrows, eyelashes, and body hair. It can also be described as bald spots or bald patches. This patchy hair loss is very unpredictable, as the hair growth can return to normal at any time, and then suddenly fall out again. The affected areas show no signs of inflammation or other reasons for the hair falling out. 

The patches of hair loss can be as small as the size of a coin, or entirely involve the affected area. The most common presentation of alopecia areata are localized bald spots, most often on the scalp or beard. If there is complete loss of all the hair on the scalp, it is called alopecia totalis. If both the hair on the scalp and body hair are involved, it is called alopecia universalis.