Alopecia Areata is an unpredictable cause of hair loss. It can occur at any age and usually starts as an isolated often circular patch of hair loss.
In most cases the hair regrows after a few weeks or even months and so the prognosis tends to be good.
However, in a small proportion of cases the condition progresses to complete scalp or body hair loss.

The cause of this condition is not known, but it tends to run in families and is associated with auto-immune conditions in the family like thyroid disease, pernicious anaemia and vitiligo (loss of normal skin colour).
Unfortunately there is no effective treatment for Alopecia Areata - although certain therapies may be tried.

Much research is being done world-wide looking at the cause and treatment of this condition.
In general, however, the prognosis of alopecia areata tends to be good with the majority of affected individuals having just one episode of hair loss which then resolves spontaneously.


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