Frequently Asked Questions
What causes these patches of bald spots to appear?
Your immune system is confused and is attacking your hair follicles, which then causes your hair to fall out. This is why Alopecia Areata is referred to as a autoimmune disease. Luckily the stem cells which supply your follicles with new cells are not targeted. This means that your ability to regrow the hair in those bald patches is not affected. Researchers beleive that Alopecia Areota is started by a trigger of some form. Unfortunetly it is not known what the trigger is that starts the disease.
Autoimmune Disease! That sounds serious, I'm I going to die or something?
Nope, the only thing that Alopecia Areata causes is spots of bald patches to appear on your scalp. Most people with Alopecia Areata are otherwise completely healthy. Although there is a slightly increased risk of developing other autoimmune diseases.
Will these bald spots grow and spread?
It is possible for Alopecia Areata to worsen into Alopecia Areata Universalis, which causes all the hair on your body to fall out. Fortunately Areata Universalis is rare and only occurs in 1-2% of cases. In most cases Alopecia Areata will not spread beyond a few bald spots.
Will my hair grow back?
Since your stem cells are not effected by the disease there is still a good chance for hair regrowth. Without treatment it can take six months to a year for your hair to grow back due to the hair follicles being destroyed and having to be completely regrown. Although your hair will eventually grow back there's a strong chance additional bald spots will appear.
What can be done about my bald spots?
Currently there is no cure for Alopecia Areata, but there are treatments for the symptoms. These treatments can in some cases speed up the regrowth of hair in those bald patches. The most common treatment for less severe cases of Alopecia Areata is cortisone steroid injections into the scalp of the bald area. In severe cases corticosteroids can be taken orally, but due to the risk of serious side effects this form of treatment is offered rarely and only for small periods of time. Minoxidil may be useful in promoting hair growth in alopecia areata, but will not work for total hair loss. It is recommended that you consult a dermatologist to insure you really have alopecia areata and that your bald spots are not a symptom of another skin disease.