Alopecia Areata
An autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing patchy, often coin-sized, bald spots. It can progress to total scalp loss (alopecia totalis) or full body loss (universalis).
Causes
- ·Autoimmune attack on hair follicles.
- ·Genetic predisposition.
- ·Can be triggered by stress or infection.
Symptoms
- ·Round, smooth bald patches that appear suddenly.
- ·May regrow spontaneously then recur.
- ·Nails may show pitting.
Treatments
Corticosteroid injectionsTopical immunotherapyJAK inhibitorsMinoxidil (adjunct)
Hair transplant?
Usually not a transplant candidate because the autoimmune process can attack transplanted follicles as well.