Alopecia areata occurs in children and young adults in which hair is lost in sharply marginated patches and often with sudden onset.  The cause of such hair loss remains unexplained.  The hair follicles in the affected areas not dead.  They simply are not producing hairs.  Should not be confused with male pattern baldness.  While most consider alopecia areata a disease that is not related to genetics, age or other factors, the reason why it does happen is not known.

While alopecia areata will cause hair loss, it is also known that over time, the hair will begin to grow back, although it may be very fine or white before normal hair growth is restored. Unless the hair loss begins during childhood and is related to more complicated factors or if the hair loss has complications later on, then the baldness may become permanent. If you are recognizing that you are losing a lot of hair and are producing bald spots, it is important to contact your health care provider in order to help in solving the symptoms and determining if it is alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly fights the hair follicles from which hairs grow. This usually leads to hair loss on the head and in some cases, in other places on the body such as the pubic region, eyebrows, eyelashes etc.
 

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The only way to determine if alopecia areata is related to your hair loss is through a scalp biopsy. However, this is sometimes not effective because doctors are not certain of the problem.

Usually the hair will fall out in a few smaller round patches. Although in some people hair loss can be more extensive, the condition usually does not exceed beyond these bare patches. It is possible for the disease to cause a total loss of hair on the head (alopecia totalis) or complete loss of hair on the face, head and body (alopecia universalis).

The disease varies from person to person, some people only lose a couple of patches of hair, before their hair regrows and often the disease never reoccurs, while others may find their hair fall out again.

Alopecia is very unpredictable and you can never be certain of what will happen next. This is often the most frustrating part of the disease. There are no definite answers as to what will happen to your hair.

Although there are no cures for alopecia or a specific approved drug for its treatment, many people find that certain medications which have been approved for other medical reasons can assist the hair to grow back, even if it is only temporary.   Treatment is not particularly effective, and most cases of alopecia areata are resolved naturally.