Alopecia
Alopecia occurs in males and females of all ages and races; however, most cases of Alopecia begin in childhood and can be psychologically devastating.
Although not life-threatening, alopecia is most certainly life-altering, and its sudden onset, recurrent episodes, and unpredictable course have a profound psychological impact on the lives of those disrupted by this disease.
Alopecia Areata is a highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. This common but very challenging and unpredictable disease affects approximately 1.7 percent of the population. Due to the fact that much of the public is still not familiar with alopecia, the disease can have a profound impact on one's life and functional status, both at work and at school.
In Alopecia Areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by a person's own immune system, resulting in the arrest of the hair growth stage. Alopecia usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (Alopecia Totalis) or complete body hair loss (Alopecia Universalis).