Know the Types of Alopecia

Alopecia areata is a common disease that results in hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. There are three types of alopecia: alopecia areata (aka patchy hair loss), alopecia totalis, and alopecia Universalis. With each of these types — which range from mild to severe — you or someone you care about might experience slightly different symptoms and the course of treatment for each might differ.

Did you know?

Alopecia areata, the most common variation of the autoimmune disease, presents itself as round patches of various sizes. Some with alopecia areata may have other autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, the fact that you have alopecia areata doesn’t mean you will automatically develop another autoimmune disease. Some with alopecia areata may experience nail changes like pitting of their nails or “stippling” (rows of tiny dents) on their fingernails. Both finger and toenails might be affected.

How many kinds of alopecia are there?

Let’s have a look at the main forms of alopecia.

• Alopecia areata: Alopecia areata (patchy) is the form with one or more coin-sized (usually round or oval) patches on the scalp or other places on the body that grow hair. This type might convert into either alopecia totalis (hair loss across the entire scalp) or alopecia Universalis (hair loss across the entire body), but most commonly it remains patchy.
• Alopecia totalis: This type of alopecia results in hair loss across the entire scalp.
• Alopecia Universalis: This type is more advanced than alopecia totalis. This results in hair loss across the entire scalp and face (including eyebrows and eyelashes), plus the rest of the body (including pubic hair). This is the rarest form of alopecia.

Let’s have a look at other forms of alopecia:

• Diffused alopecia: This type of alopecia results in sudden and unexpected thinning of the hair all over the scalp. It can be hard to diagnose. This is because it looks a lot like other types of hair loss like telogen effluvium or male or female pattern hair loss.
• Ophiasis alopecia: This type of alopecia has a unique pattern of hair loss. This is characterized by hair loss in the shape of a wave at the circumference of the head. This can be more difficult to treat because it does not respond as quickly to medication.

With all types of alopecia, hair loss and regrowth can be very unpredictable and cyclical (happen over and over), for many years. Though for some people, hair might regrow and not fall out again. In all types of alopecia, the hair follicles remain alive and are ready to resume normal hair production whenever they receive the right signal. In all cases, hair regrowth might occur even without treatment and after many years.