Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease and every person living with it has a unique story. Learn more about the experiences, struggles, and triumphs of living with alopecia areata.

woman with alopecia areata on scalpwoman with alopecia areata on scalp

REAL-LIFE REFLECTIONS

Watch as patients reflect on their experiences with alopecia areata and courageously share their stories.

“There’s a whole community of alopecia areata warriors that will have your back.”

Supriya

The truth about alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks hair follicles at the root and causes hair to fall out.i,ii,iii Normally, growing hair is protected from immune system attacks. But in alopecia areata, this protection is lost.i,ii,iii

icon of a figure with alopecia areata on the scalp

Hair loss can occur on the scalp, face (eyebrows, eyelashes, nose hair, facial hair) and other parts of the body. i,ii

icon of a woman sneezing

Alopecia areata may impact the body in other ways. Especially if someone has hair loss on different parts of the body, they might experience eye irritation, frequent runny nose and sneezing, sensitivity to temperature and sunburn, and weakness or denting of the nails. iv,v,vi

icon of female healthcare worker

When evaluating alopecia areata, a dermatologist may look at various factors such as the amount of hair loss, the location of hair loss (including eyebrows or eyelashes), and the length of time since diagnosis. ii,vii,viii

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Hair loss can be an emotional experience and it may be hard to talk about with others. Sharing feelings with a support system and dermatologist can help patients manage the disease’s impact on everyday life. vii

Alopecia Areata by the Numbers

You’re not alone. Many people around the world are living with the challenges of alopecia areata.

up to 2

percent of the world’s population may experience alopecia areata in their lifetime i,ix

6.6

million people in the US may be diagnosed with alopecia areata in their lifetimes ix,x

80

percent of alopecia areata cases typically appear by age 40 vii

adult woman with alopecia areata on scalp

Some Different Types of Alopecia Areata

Patchy
alopecia areata

The most common form, with small, round bald spots on the scalp. ii,vii

alopecia
Totalis (AT)

Total hair loss on the whole scalp. ii,vii

alopecia
Universalis (AU)

Total hair loss on the whole body. ii,vii

Test your knowledge

Can you tell the difference between myth and fact when it comes to alopecia areata?
Take this simple quiz to test your knowledge of alopecia areata.

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Alopecia areata is just a cosmetic condition.

Myth

Correct. Alopecia areata is more than just hair loss. It’s an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks hair follicles at the root and causes hair to fall out. i,ii,iii Eye irritation, frequent runny nose, and sensitivity to sunburn also may result from alopecia areata. iv,v,vi

Fact

Incorrect. Alopecia areata is more than just hair loss. It’s an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks hair follicles at the root and causes hair to fall out. i,ii,iii Eye irritation, frequent runny nose, and sensitivity to sunburn also may result from alopecia areata. iv,v,vi

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Hair loss caused by alopecia areata is unpredictable.

Myth

Incorrect. This is a fact. In alopecia areata hair loss is unpredictable. At any time, hair loss or hair regrowth may start or stop. vii

Fact

Correct. In alopecia areata, hair loss is unpredictable. At any time, hair loss or hair regrowth may start or stop. vii

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Alopecia areata only affects hair on the scalp.

Myth

Correct. While alopecia areata most commonly affects the hair on the scalp, it can also affect hair on other parts of the body, including legs, arms, eyelashes, eyebrows, nose hair, and facial hair. ii,iv,v,vi

Fact

Incorrect. This is a myth. Alopecia areata most commonly affects the hair on the scalp, but it can also affect hair on other parts of the body, including legs, arms, eyelashes, eyebrows, nose hair and facial hair. ii,iv,v,vi

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All types of hair loss are the same.

Myth

Correct. Alopecia is a general term for “hair loss,” but there are many different types. ii Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease driven by an inflammatory attack on the hair follicle. i,ii,iii There are many other causes as well, including androgenic alopecia, pattern baldness most commonly occurring in males. ii

Fact

Incorrect. Alopecia is a general term for “hair loss,” but there are many different types. ii Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease driven by an inflammatory attack on the hair follicle. i,ii,iii There are many other causes as well, including androgenic alopecia, pattern baldness most commonly occurring in males. ii

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Living with alopecia areata can affect well-being and aspects of daily life.

Myth

Incorrect. Alopecia areata can have a real impact on patients’ daily lives and there can be an emotional burden. ii,xi

Fact

Correct. Alopecia areata can have a real impact on patients’ daily lives and there can be an emotional burden. ii,xi

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Only adults are affected by alopecia areata.

Myth

Correct. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that can affect all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Approximately 40% of patients experience their first episode of hair loss before the age of 20. xii

Fact

Incorrect. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that can affect all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Approximately 40% of patients experience their first episode of hair loss before the age of 20. xii

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Thank you

SOURCES

  • i Islam N, Leung PSC, Huntley AC, et al. The autoimmune basis of alopecia areata: a comprehensive review. Autoimmun Rev. 2015: 14(2): 81-89.

  • ii Pratt CH, King LE Jr, Messenger AG, Christiano AM, Sundberg JP. Alopecia areata. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17011.

  • iii Food and Drug Administration. The voice of the patient: a series of reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) patient-focused drug development initiative. Silver Spring, MD:FDA;2018. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/files/about%20fda/published/Alopecia-Areata--The-Voice-of-the-Patient.pdf. Accessed 14 Dec.2022.

  • iv Wyrwich KW, Kitchen H, Knight S, et al. Development of clinician-reported outcome (ClinRo) and patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures for eyebrow, eyelash and nail assessment in alopecia areata. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(5):725-732.

  • v Mesinkovska N, King B, Mirmirani P, et al. Buden of illness in alopecia areata: a cross-sectional online survey study. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2020;20(1):S62-S68.

  • vi Wyrwich KW, Kitchen H, Knight S, et al. The role of patients in alopecia areata endpoint development: understanding physical signs and symptoms. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2020; 20(1):S71-S77.

  • vii Villasante Fricke AC, Miteva M. Epidemiology and burden of alopecia areata: a systematic review. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2015;8:397-403. doi:10.2147/CCID.S53985.

    viii Meah N, Wall D, York K, et al. The Alopecia Areata Consensus of Experts (ACE) study: results of an international expert opinion on treatments for alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;83(1):123-130.

    ix Lee H, Gwillim E, Patel KR. Epidemiology of alopecia areata, ophiasis, totalis, and universalis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82(3):675-682.

    x Census Bureau, U. S. (2021). United States Census Bureau International Data Base. Suitland, Silverland, Maryland; U.S Census Bureau. 

    xi Strazzulla LC, Wang EHC, Avila L, et al. Alopecia areata: Disease characteristics, clinical evaluation, and new perspectives on pathogenesis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;78(1):1-12. 

    xii Stefanaki C, Kontochristopoulos G, Hatzidimitrakib E, et al. A Retrospective Study on Alopecia Areata in Children: Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Choices. Skin Appen Dis. 2021.