What are the Symptoms of Alopecia?

Some of the most common symptoms of alopecia include loss of hair on the scalp, the beard or other areas of the body. Other symptoms, such as thinning hair or hair that easily breaks or falls out may also be signs of alopecia. When affecting the scalp, the symptoms of alopecia generally begin at the top of the head. On other parts of the body, as well as the scalp, alopecia also tends to leave round, smooth patches of skin where hair once grew.

There are various types of alopecia, which affect women, men and children. Generally, the type of alopecia is defined by who it affects and on what part of the body the signs of alopecia become evident on. For instance, alopecia in men may affect areas of the beard or mustache, as well as the scalp and other parts of the body. Alopecia in children, as well as in women, may also be experienced on the scalp and other parts of the body. The symptoms of alopecia are generally the same, however.

Understanding the symptoms of alopecia can help individuals recognize and identify it as soon as it begins. While this condition often goes away on its own, individuals interested in treating alopecia will sometimes try to do so with corticosteroid medications, surgical hair transplants, ultraviolet light therapy, herbal therapies and medications commonly used to help stimulate hair regrowth. Often caused by underlying health conditions, such as malnutrition, a fungal infection or an autoimmune disorder, treating alopecia also usually begins with treating the condition causing it.

The symptoms of alopecia may also cause hair strands that outline a bald patch caused by the condition to resemble an exclamation point. Hair loss may also range in severity from complete loss all over the body to much smaller losses in particular areas. Wherever hair grows, the symptoms of alopecia may become evident.

While efforts to treat the symptoms of alopecia may be attempted individually or while under a doctor’s care, some cases may not show any improvement despite repeated therapies. This is particularly true for individuals who suffer from eczema or who are affected by alopecia in childhood. Individuals with long-term alopecia also do not generally experience positive results when treating alopecia.