According to some estimates, two persons out of every hundred suffer with some form of alopecia hair loss. The condition can range in gravity from small bald patches, to complete hair loss on the scalp to total loss of body hair altogether.

The main questions many people ask about alopecia hair loss are considered here:

How can alopecia hair loss be defined?

For a start, let’s make sure we can pronounce the word correctly. Al-oh-PEE-shah is how alopecia is pronounced, with the third syllable PEE getting most of the emphasis. Alopecia refers to “partial or complete hair loss.” Often you see it called by it’s proper title “Alopecia Areata” and additional words may be added to indicate the severity of the condition or the specific area that is affected.

Multilocularis: Multiple bald spots on the head

Barbae: Bald patches only on the beard

Totalis: No hair at all on the head and scalp

Universalis: A total absence of body hair

How does a person get Alopecia hair loss?

This condition can affect anyone – male, female, old, young, from all races. There is an indication that heredity can play a part as about one in five who have the condition have relatives who also suffer with it.

Interestingly though, records show that the parents of most of the children who suffer with alopecia hair loss did not have it themselves. And the reverse is also true, the majority of children whose parents suffer with it did not have alopecia themselves.

Alopecia hair loss is an autoimmune disease which can be triggered by a virus or some other agent in the environment causing the body’s protective white blood cells to mistakenly attack the cells that grow in the hair follicle to make hair. The condition is not contagious!

The big question – Will hair grow back?

It’s different in each case. Here is an overview of how a person might be affected:

Even though their is regrowth, the hair may fall out later

There are only a small number of patches, and hair eventually regrows never to fall out again

Hair may fall out, regrow, fall out, regrow, and so on for many years

In most cases, the regrowth is the same color as the hair before

In a few cases, the hair that regrows is white but then gradually regains its original color

So what is the remedy for alopecia hair loss?

While there is no perfect solution right now, there are various drugs available on the market which can boost hair growth. Among these there are:

Rogaine, also called Minoxidil because of the main ingredient, is a drug designed to treat male and female pattern hair loss. It has been approved by the FDA.

Corticosteroids – powerful drugs which have the effect of suppressing the immune system

There are various ways of coping with the changes in appearance, depending of course on how severe alopecia hair loss is for an individual. These include using scarves, hats, jewelry, clothing, and cosmetics to camouflage the effects of alopecia hair loss. Additionally, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (alopeciaareata.com) has a network and message board system putting sufferers in touch with each other where they can exchange ideas and suggestions.

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