Alopecia areata is a disease that affects the hair follicles, which are part of the skin from which hairs grow. In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter. Many people with the disease get only a few bare patches. Some people may lose more hair. Rarely, the disease causes total loss of hair on the head or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body.

In an image conscious society a high premium is attached to youthful appearance. Baldness is unfashionable. Publicity and intrigue surrounding the alleged treatment of famous heads and extensive advertising by some private clinics have heightened public interest.

Pattern baldness in men is the most common type of hair loss, and usually involves a receding hairline and baldness on the crown of the head. The condition is usually caused by hormonal and genetic factors. Hair loss occurs when the hair follicle, a cavity in the skin, shrinks over time, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The individual hair in this follicle then becomes thinner and shorter, until eventually no hair is left in the follicle.

Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny cup-shaped structures from which hairs grow. This can lead to hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere. In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter. In many cases, the disease does not extend beyond a few bare patches. In some people, hair loss is more extensive. Although uncommon, the disease can progress to cause total loss of hair on the head (referred to as alopecia areata totalis) or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body (alopecia areata universalis).

Normal aging. Family history of hair loss. Hormonal changes, such as with menopause. A side effect of some medicines, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Crash dieting. A prolonged or serious illness. Major surgery. Thyroid disease. Areata. This causes areas of patchy hair loss. It improves quickly when treated, but can go away within 18 months without treatment.

The registry has been established by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The new registry will be located at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, with affiliated centers at UCSF, the University of Colorado, University of Minnesota, and Columbia University.

Hair loss is a major concern for men and women the world over. Unfortunately, many consumers answer ads for hair replacement products and procedures before getting the facts about hair loss. While some cases of hair loss are inherited, others are caused by disease and poor diet and may also result as the side effects of some medical treatments. In some cases, people with hair loss conditions can re-grow hair through correct diagnosis and medical treatment while others may decide to seek alternative hair replacement options. Dermatologists specializing in treating diseases of the hair and skin may evaluate patients’ hair problems to determine what, if any, treatment may be right for that patient. Before spending hundreds of dollars on products and procedures, it is important to get a professional opinion on whether or not the problem will respond to medical treatment.

Tinea capitis presents with erythema, scaling and broken hair shafts on exam. Evaluation includes KOH or fungal culture of broken hair shaft and appropriate oral antifungal treatment. Alopecia areata presents as smooth round bald patches in the scalp, beard area, or eyebrows. Evaluation includes TSH, CBC, and RPR to evaluate for associated autoimmune disease or syphilis. The condition is self limited but referral for treatment is appropriate for multiple areas of involvement or large surface area involved. Traumatic alopecia includes trichotillomania and traction alopecia. Treatment involves pinpointing the underlying cause and emphasizing behavior modification.

Patient history of alopecia: onset of hair loss, hair loss pattern (diffuse or focal), rate and timing of hair loss, other scalp symptoms (itching, burning, tingling)
Personal history: dietary changes, diet, hair-care routine, hygiene products, medications (prescription medications, vitamins, over-the-counter [OTC] medications, and herbal remedies), stress, major illness
Female patient: menstrual and reproductive histories
Any family history of alopecia, patient's concurrent systemic/chronic illness, physical stress, medication, environmental exposure, psychiatric disorders, hairstyle, signs and symptoms of hormonal abnormalities
Physical examination:
1. Scalp exam for any scars, erythema, scaling, or inflammation
2. Density and distribution of hair
3. Hair shaft exam for caliber, length, shape, and fragility
4. Thyroid palpation to determine thyroid size, nodularity, or vascularity
Use "pull test" technique for hair loss. Grasp about 60 hairs between the thumb, the index, and the middle fingers. The hairs are then gently but firmly pulled. A positive test (2–10 hairs obtained) indicates an active hair shedding.

If a patient demonstrates positive hair-pull tests all over the scalp, he/she may be warned he/she will most likely lose all of their hair. Next, provide anticipatory guidance during the period of extensive hair loss as the cycle reestablishes and regrowth begins.

Finally, determine if eyebrow, eyelash, axillary, or body hair is affected. Examine hair density in other areas such as the face and extremities. A female patient who presents with thinning scalp hair and demonstrates increased facial, thigh, chin, or chest hair may have an androgen excess.

"It's one of the leading ways people can establish their individuality and express their style," says Jerome Shupack, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology at New York University Medical Center in New York City. "Hair has had sociological importance throughout the ages." Because of its importance, anything that happens to our hair that we can't control--falling out or turning gray, for instance--can be the source of much anxiety. In the United States, some 35 million men are losing or have lost their hair from male-pattern baldness, according to the American Hair Loss Council. Approximately 20 million women have experienced a similar loss of hair (from female-pattern hair loss), and an estimated 2.5 million Americans have lost their hair due to other causes.

The idea of HairSite Blog grew out of frustration, the frustration of searching for a simple hair loss solution on the Internet that was, well… impossible. So to help sort out all of the confusion that seems to invade ones browser when trying to research hair loss on the Internet, HairSiteBlog.com has added specific hair loss categories or tags such as “Alopecia Areata”, “Female Pattern Baldness”, “Hair Loss Diseases” and even “Eyebrow & Eyelash Transplants”. Combined with a powerful search tool (located at the top of every page) that highlights the words you searched for, making your search for any type of hair loss information easier and more accurate.

Hormones have a great effect on hair, which is why many women notice changes during and after pregnancy and around menopause. After menopause, the ovaries may produce more androgens (male hormones) than estrogen and this can result in hair loss.

A recent study suggests that hair loss may occur in a few persons who have received vaccinations. This side effect, if confirmed by other studies, would be considered very rare.

In the United States, some 35 million men are losing or have lost their hair from male-pattern baldness, according to the American Hair Loss Council. Approximately 20 million women have experienced a similar loss of hair (from female-pattern hair loss), and an estimated 2.5 million Americans have lost their hair due to other causes.

Alopecia areata (al-oh-PEE-shah air-ee-AH-tah) is a highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body.

Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women. In men, this condition is also known as male-pattern baldness. Hair is lost in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples.

The normal scalp contains approximately 100,000 hairs. They are constantly growing, with old hairs falling out and being replaced by new ones. Some cancer treatments will cause some people to lose some or all of their hair (alopecia).