Alopecia Areata Symptoms

Alopecia areata is a condition that results in partial or complete loss of hair on the scalp and other parts of the body. To diagnose the problem your doctor may take a biopsy of your scalp. In some cases treatment may not be necessary as the hair may grow back on its own, in other cases medication may be used to encourage hair growth.

Scalp Hair Loss

• The most common symptom of alopecia areata is scalp hair loss. The section of the scalp where the hair loss is most prominent will have a circular or oval pattern to the hair loss, and the scalp skin in the lost hair region will seem shiny but otherwise normal. In some cases the loss of scalp hair may stop with an oval or circular pattern, but in other cases the scalp hair loss may continue until all of the scalp hair is lost.

Scalp Pain

• In some isolated cases of alopecia areata you may experience sensations in the area of the scalp where hair has been lost. These sensations include a tingling feeling, a burning sensation, and they may be accompanied by itching. In some cases you may also experience tenderness in the affected scalp areas. These painful sensations come and go, and they normally dissipate over time.

Body Hair

• In some more extreme cases of alopecia areata you may wind up experiencing total body hair loss. You may notice patches of body hair disappearing along with the scalp hair until all hair on your scalp, and on the rest of your body, is completely gone. This loss of all body and scalp hair is referred to as alopecia universalis.

Fingernails

• It is possible that you may begin to experience symptoms of alopecia areata in your fingernails as well as your hair. Your fingernails may start to show areas of small pits or dents, you may even begin to develop deep grooves in the surface of your fingernails. Your fingernails may split for no reason at all, and you may start to notice small red rashes forming under your fingernails and at other points on the tips of your fingers.

Diffuse Alopecia Areata

• In some cases you may experience alopecia areata symptoms that do not result in complete hair loss. You may experience thinning hair on your scalp, and you may notice the hair thinning on other parts of your body including your face and genitals. This condition of thinning hair is referred to as diffuse alopecia areata.