Alopecia areata is a condition that causes hair loss on the scalp and sometimes other parts of the body. It is believed to be caused by an abnormality of the immune system that causes the body's immune system to attack the hair follicles. Typically, hair regrows within a year without treatment. Steroid injections, creams, and shampoos may be used during treatment. Read more: Alopecia Areata Article
Multimedia: Slideshows, Images & Quizzes
-
Hair Loss: Alopecia, Thinning Hair in Men and Women
Learn about hair loss (alopecia) in women and men. Discover hair loss causes and treatments like shampoos and drugs, as well as...
-
Picture of Trachyonychia
The term trachyonychia itself refers to “rough nails.” Trachyonychia (also called twenty-nail dystrophy) is a nail disorder that...
-
Picture of Alopecia Areata (Nails)
Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic, autoimmune disease and while most associate it with temporary and permanent hair loss, it...
-
Picture of Hair Grafts
Hair grafts – Hair Grafts are tiny pieces of scalp containing one or two hairs are harvested for a healthy part of the head...
-
Hair Loss Quiz
True or false: Genetic hair loss comes from the mother's side of the family. Take the Hair Loss Quiz to learn about your hair....
-
Skin Quiz: Acne, Dry Skin, Dandruff & More
What's that all over you? Skin, of course! Test your knowledge of your most amazing organ with the Skin Quiz!
-
Women's Hair Loss: Causes, Treatments, and Solutions
Hair loss in women has many causes. Menopause is one cause of hair loss in women over 50. Hormones, medications, and stress are...
-
Picture of Alopecia Areata
A common hair loss condition, alopecia areata, usually starts as a single quarter-sized circle of perfectly smooth baldness. See...
-
Picture of Traction Alopecia
Tight braids and ponytails can pull hard enough on hairs to make them fall out. See a picture of Traction Alopecia and learn more...
-
Picture of Hair Transplant
Surgical approaches include various versions of hair transplantation (taking hair from the back and putting it near the front) or...
-
Picture of Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, which is where hair...
-
Picture of Female Pattern Baldness
Mistakenly thought to be a strictly male disease, women make up a significant percentage of American hair loss sufferers. See a...
-
Facial Health: What Your Skin and Face Symptoms Can Reveal About You
What medical problems appear on your face? Look into the mirror and find out. Jaundice, glaucoma, skin cancer, and cracked lips...
SLIDESHOW
Hair Loss: Alopecia, Thinning Hair in Men and Women See SlideshowRelated Disease Conditions
-
Leprosy
Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is a disfiguring disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium leprae bacteria. The disease is spread from person to person through nasal secretions or droplets. Symptoms and signs of leprosy include numbness, loss of temperature sensation, painless ulcers, eye damage, loss of digits, and facial disfigurement. Leprosy is treated with antibiotics and the dosage and length of time of administration depends upon which form of leprosy the patient has.
-
How Do I Know If I Have Telogen Effluvium or Androgenetic Alopecia?
What is the difference between telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia? Learn about these hair loss conditions and how to treat them.
-
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin turns white due to the loss of pigment from the melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin that gives the skin color.
-
Hair Loss (Alopecia) In Men and In Women
There are many causes of scalp hair loss. This featured article covers the common ones such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata, trichotillomania, and tinea capitis), telogen effluvium, and androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern baldness, female-pattern baldness).
-
How Do I Know if My Child Has Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a condition that occurs when your child's immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss. Your child will have patchy hair loss that may occur anywhere on the body where hair grows.
-
Alopecia Areata: How Is It Treated and Can It Be Cured?
Many people experience an autoimmune disorder of the skin that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and other areas of the body. Learn what medical treatments can help ease your alopecia areata symptoms and help you manage this condition.
-
Why Would You Need Plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis is a procedure that removes antibodies against the person's own body cells and tissues (autoantibodies) from the blood. Medical professionals may use plasmapheresis to treat neurological or autoimmune diseases, toxins in the blood, and lower cholesterol that hasn't responded to medications or dietary changes.
-
How Can I Grow My Hair If I Have Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is characterized by small patches of hair loss on your scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes. Make your hair grow with alopecia areata by using corticosteroid injections, Rogaine, and anthralin.
-
What Are the Main Causes of Alopecia Areata?
What is alopecia areata? Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that can cause hair loss. Learn the signs of alopecia areata, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and what you can do to treat it.
-
Is Alopecia (Hair Loss) a Serious Autoimmune Disease and Is It Permanent?
Alopecia areata is a condition that causes patchy hair loss. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition, but it reverses in some cases without any medical intervention.
-
Is Alopecia (Hair Loss) a Disease?
Alopecia is an autoimmune disease where your immune system's cells turn on your hair follicles. Alopecia (hair loss) is both a disease and a sign of other conditions.
Treatment & Diagnosis
Medications & Supplements
Prevention & Wellness
- FDA Approves First Pill to Treat Severe Alopecia
- Health Tip: Understanding Alopecia Areata
- Hair Styles That Can Lead to Hair Loss
- An Eczema Drug Helped Regrow a Girl's Hair -- Could It Help Others?
- Haywire Immune Cells May Help Cause Baldness
- Arthritis Drug May Help With Type of Hair Loss
- Drug Restores Hair in Alopecia Patients: FAQ
- Early Research With Drug Restores Hair in Patients With Alopecia
- Hairless Man Now Hairy, Thanks to Arthritis Drug
- Scientists Find Possible Genetic Roots of Type of Hair Loss
- Balding Before 30 May Cut Prostate Cancer Risk
From 
Healthy Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Subscribe to MedicineNet's Skin Care & Conditions Newsletter
By clicking "Submit," I agree to the MedicineNet Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. I also agree to receive emails from MedicineNet and I understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet subscriptions at any time.