Alopecia areata

Title

Not a rare disease

Other Names:

AA; Diffuse alopecia; Patchy alopecia; AA; Diffuse alopecia; Patchy alopecia; Marginal alopecia; Alopecia Celsi; Alopecia Cicatrisata; Alopecia Circumscripta; Cazenave's Vitiligo; Celsus' Vitiligo; Jonston's Alopecia See More

Categories:

Immune System Diseases

Summary Summary

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches on the scalp. Although uncommon, hair loss can be more extensive in some people and affect other parts of the body. This condition can progress to complete loss of scalp hair (alopecia totalis) or total loss of all body hair (alopecia universalis).^[1] Although the exact cause of AA is unknown, roughly 20% of affected people have a family member with alopecia, suggesting that genetic factors may contribute to the development of the condition.^[2] There is no cure or approved therapy for AA; however, some people find that medications approved for other purposes can help regrow hair.^[1]

Last updated: 11/23/2014

Symptoms Symptoms

The Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) provides the following list of features that have been reported in people with this condition. Much of the information in the HPO comes from Orphanet, a European rare disease database. If available, the list includes a rough estimate of how common a feature is (its frequency). Frequencies are based on a specific study and may not be representative of all studies. You can use the MedlinePlus Medical Dictionary for definitions of the terms below.

Signs and Symptoms	Approximate number of patients (when available)
Alopecia areata	-
Alopecia totalis	-
Alopecia universalis	-
Autoimmunity	-
Multifactorial inheritance	-
Nail pits	-

Last updated: 9/1/2017

Do you have updated information on this condition? Let us know.

Research Research

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

The Centers for Mendelian Genomics program is working to discover the causes of rare genetic disorders. For more information about applying to the research study, please visit their website.
ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are studying or have studied Alopecia areata. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Patient Registry

Alopecia Areata Registry
MD Anderson Department of Dermatology
1400 Pressler Street – Unit 1452
Houston, Texas 77030
Toll-free: 1-866-837-1050
Fax: 713-794-1491
E-mail: alopeciaregistry@mdanderson.org
Web site: http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/alopecia/
Study coordinator: Joyce S. Osei, MPH, MHA
E-mail: jsosei@mdanderson.org

Organizations Organizations

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

American Hair Loss Association
23679 Calabasas Road # 682
Calabasas, CA 91301-1502
E-mail: inquire@americanhairloss.org
Website: http://americanhairloss.org
Children's Alopecia Project, Inc.
906 Penn Avenue 1st Floor
Wyomissing, PA 19610
Telephone: (610) 468-1011
E-mail: Jeff.Woytovich@ChildrensAlopeciaProject.org
Website: http://childrensalopeciaproject.org/contact/
Hair Loss in Women
Website: http://www.hairlossinwomen.org/
National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF)
65 Mitchell Boulevard
Suite 200-B
San Rafael, CA 94903
Telephone: 415-472-3780
Fax: 415-472-5343
E-mail: info@naaf.org
Website: http://www.naaf.org

Organizations Providing General Support

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA)
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe, MI 48021
Toll-free: 800-598-4668
Telephone: 586-776-3900
Fax: 586-776-3903
E-mail: aarda@aarda.org
Website: https://www.aarda.org/

Do you know of an organization? Send us your suggestions.

Living With Living With

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Genetics Resources

To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by GeneTests, the American College of Medical Genetics, and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from Genetics Home Reference.

Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

DermNet NZ is an online resource about skin diseases developed by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated. DermNet NZ provides information about this condition.
MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) support research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research, and the dissemination of information on research progress in these diseases. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Alopecia areata. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Resources for Kids

The American Hair Loss Association Web site lists resources for kids with alopecia. Click on American Hair Loss Association to view the page.

Related Diseases Related Diseases

The following diseases are related to Alopecia areata. If you have a question about any of these diseases, you can contact GARD.

Alopecia universalis

GARD Answers GARD Answers

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.

Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.

References References

Alopecia Areata: Questions and Answers About Alopecia Areata. National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders (NIAMS). April 2015; http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Alopecia_Areata/.
Alopecia areata. MedlinePlus. 11/20/2012; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001450.htm.

Do you know of a review article? Send us your suggestions.