Alopecia Areata Specialists in Karnataka
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing sudden, patchy hair loss typically on the scalp…
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What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing sudden, patchy hair loss typically on the scalp but sometimes affecting eyebrows, eyelashes, or other body hair. Unlike pattern hair loss, it often appears as well-defined round or oval bald patches that can develop rapidly over days to weeks. The condition follows an unpredictable course, with hair sometimes regrowing spontaneously in one area while new patches appear elsewhere. In more severe forms, it can progress to complete scalp hair loss or loss of all body hair.
Mild
Uncommon — affects about 2% of the population at some point in their lives
No
Causes of Alopecia Areata
Caused by an autoimmune attack on hair follicles, where immune cells mistakenly target the follicles as foreign, halting hair growth. Genetic predisposition plays a significant role, and the condition is more common in people with a personal or family history of other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disorders or vitiligo. Emotional stress is sometimes reported as a trigger for flares.
Symptoms of Alopecia Areata
Sudden patchy hair loss in round or oval areas, smooth bald patches without scarring, short broken hairs at the edges of patches, occasional tingling or itching before hair loss, nail pitting or ridging, loss of eyebrows or eyelashes in some cases
Treatment & Types of Alopecia Areata in Karnataka
Treatment options include corticosteroid injections directly into affected patches to suppress local immune activity, topical immunotherapy to stimulate regrowth, and newer oral medications called JAK inhibitors for more extensive or resistant cases. Some cases resolve spontaneously without treatment, while others require ongoing management to control recurrence.
Alopecia areata ranges in clinical presentation from alopecia areata (one or a few round patches of hair loss, the most common form), to alopecia totalis (complete loss of all scalp hair), to alopecia universalis (loss of all hair on the scalp and body), representing increasing severity of the same underlying autoimmune process.
Dermatology Specialists in Karnataka (0)
No specialists listed yet in Karnataka — browse all doctors instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my hair grow back?
Many people experience spontaneous regrowth, especially with limited patchy disease, though the course is unpredictable and some patches may recur while others resolve.
Is alopecia areata contagious?
No, it's an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, and it cannot be spread to others.
Are steroid injections painful and how often are they needed?
They cause brief discomfort and are typically repeated every four to six weeks to stimulate regrowth in affected patches.
Is this linked to other health conditions?
Yes, it's more common in people with other autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease or vitiligo, so your doctor may check for these.
Can stress trigger a flare?
Emotional stress is sometimes reported as a trigger, though the exact relationship isn't fully understood — managing stress may help alongside dermatologic treatment.