Alopecia areata (circular hair loss)

Alo­pe­cia area­ta descri­bes cir­cu­lar, hair­less patches, usual­ly on the head, which can appear sud­den­ly. The cour­se is often inter­mit­tent, usual­ly wit­hout itching, and heals wit­hout scar­ri­ng. The exact cau­se is not known for cer­tain; pos­si­ble fac­tors dis­cus­sed include a mis­di­rec­ted immu­ne sys­tem and stress. A der­ma­to­lo­gi­cal dia­gno­sis helps to rule out other forms of hair loss and dis­cuss sui­ta­ble therapies.