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When alopecia is not genetic or caused by the immune system, it can be prevented. Some ways include wearing hair down, avoid using chemicals in hair, and when using heat irons on hair, keep the heat setting low.

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If you've seen a lot of extra hair on your pillow, brush, or shower drain, or you've noticed odd little bald spots in the mirror, you might have an autoimmune disorder called alopecia areata.

When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks your own body. With alopecia areata, it's the hair follicles that are attacked. This causes the hair to come out, often in clumps the size and shape of a quarter. The amount of hair loss is different in everyone. Some people lose it only in a few spots. Others lose a lot.

It's rare, but you can lose all the hair on your head (alopecia areata totalis) or entire body (alopecia areata universalis).

Each case of alopecia areata is different. Sometimes, hair grows back but falls out again later. In others, hair grows back for good.

If you think you do have alopocia areata, you may want to see a dermatologist.

Is There A Cure?

Alopecia areata can't be cured. But it can be treated and hair can grow back. If you have it, there are several things to try:

Corticosteroids. These are anti-inflammatory drugs that are prescribed for autoimmune diseases. They can be given as an injection into the scalp or other areas. They can also be given in pill form or rubbed on the skin as an ointment, cream, or foam. The downside is that it may take a long time to work.

Topical immunotherapy. This is used when there's a lot of hair loss, or if it happens more than once. Chemicals are applied to the scalp to produce an allergic reaction. If it works, this reaction is actually what makes the hair grow back. It also causes an itchy rash, and usually has to be repeated several times to keep the new hair growth.

Minoxidil (Rogaine). This treatment, which is put on the scalp, is already used for pattern baldness. It usually takes about 12 weeks before you see growth, and some users are disappointed in the results.

Other treatments for alopecia areata include medications that are sometimes used for other autoimmune disorders. These medicines have differing amounts of success in re-growing hair.

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If you've seen a lot of extra hair on your pillow, brush, or shower drain, or you've noticed odd little bald spots in the mirror, you might have an autoimmune disorder called alopecia areata. When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks your own body.

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What age group/gender is mostly affected by alopecia?

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What age group/gender is mostly affected by alopecia?

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Females are more likely to be diagnosed with alopecia and scientists are still unclear why. People are more likely to be diagnosed in adolescence (ages: 10-20) than when they are older. The prevalence of this disease is different between different ethnic groups.

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There is not one treatment that continually works for everyone with alopecia.
Finasteride: Will block any hair from falling out but won't regrow it alone. Can only be used by men.
Minoxidil: Helps to regrow hair after it had fallen out. Can be used by men and women.
Topical Medications: Can help the hair grow back at a faster rate, similar to what minoxidil does.

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Comprehensive information about alopecia areata, including its cause and treatment options.

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Relaible website for information on alopecia:

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Relaible website for information on alopecia:

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6.8 million people have alopecia. Also, it is possible to grow back hair after alopecia, but alopecia can reoccur in someone´s lifetime.

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Alopacia is non-communacable, for it is usually genetic or caused by the immune system.

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Alopecia occurs when your immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign substances. This leads to hair loss. The disease usually affects people with a family history so genetics plays a huge role. Scientists believe that certain factors in the environment are needed to trigger the alopecia in people who might be genetically pre-disposed to this disease.

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Hair loss: Starts with one or more circular bald patches that grow and overlap
Small dents in nails:  Nails become more brittle and fragile
Itching: Itching your scalp weakens the hair follicles creating the bald patches
Anxiety: The stress that anxiety creates leads to the weakening of hair and causes hair to start falling out

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Alopecia is hairloss. There are three conditions: alopecia areata, which is when hair is lost in round patches; alopecia totalis, which is when hair is lost on the scalp; and alopecia universalis which is when hair is lost all over the body.