Alopecia areata is a disease in which a person experiences hair fall out in the form of patches. This disease is an autoimmune disorder, which means that the body considers its healthy cells as foreign particles and attack them. In alopecia areata, the body attacks hair follicles and makes them non-functional, which leads to unpredictable hair fall. The condition varies in severity, and hair fall may occur only on the head or entire body in severe cases. This disease equally affects men and women, and mostly occurs in people younger than 30 years of age. The patches may be unnoticeable in the beginning and become noticeable as the disease progresses. Hair fall may occur on the scalp, face, eyelashes, eyebrows, and other areas of the body—the severity of the disease varies from individual to individual. Almost 10 to 25 percent of patients have a family history of alopecia areata, and the diseased person may or may not pass the disease to the next generation.
The main symptom of the disease is more than usual hair loss and patches on the skin. People notice hairs on their pillow, comb, and during a shower. There are many types of alopecia areata depending on the extent of hair fall, and each having different treatment options. Treatment involves medications that promote hair regrowth and immunosuppressive drugs, along with other therapies. Here you will read about the main symptoms and causes of alopecia areata, its treatment, types, and home remedies to cure this disease.