Alopecia Areata is one of the six types of hair loss. This type of hair loss appears as a bald patch, about an inch across. Alopecia Areata is common, and is experienced by both men and women. It is believed to be an auto-immune disease, meaning the body’s immune system does not recognize the hair follicles and perceives them as virus, thus, attacking the follicles. This will cause the hair to stop growing, and enter telogen (resting phase). There are three types of alopecia areata, named according to severity: Alopecia areata, Alopecia Totalis, Alopecia Universalis.

Alopecia Areata is mild patchy hair loss and is not at all contagious. The frequent occurrence within family members suggest that it may be hereditary, and in addition, is more likely to occur with people who have autoimmune disease.

Alopecia Totalis is the loss of all the hair in the head. There are many assumptions about the cause of this, one of the suspects being autoimmune disorder once again, but it is also thought that stress may also be a contributor to the loss.

Alopecia Universalis, otherwise known as alopecia areata universalis is the most extreme of alopecia areata. It involves the loss of all hair, included eyebrows, and eyelashes. Luckily, there is only .001% incidence of this type of hair loss.

In most cases, hair grows back in about three months later, but there is a minimum percentage of hair loss recurrence, or eventually permanence.