Calling all Doctors, Question about Alopecia Areata.

I was told by someone that Alopecia Areata is the general name of the disease. When total hair loss occurs on the head and face, its called Alopecia Areata Totis and when lost all over the body is called Alopecia Areata Universalis. When its in its early stages with just patches, it is simply called by the general name Alopecia Areata. Is this true. I am confused as I am trying to learn more about my disease. I was just diagnosed on May 12th 2009. Any information would be helpful.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by DrPanx on June 14, 2009 at 4:55pm
Hi all,
Alopecia areata (AA) is a patchy hair loss chracterized by smooth, well defined shiny, asymptomatic patches. There are many subtypes of alopecia areata (alopecia areata is an umbrella term for this kind of hair loss). When there are few well defined patches it is called focal (if single patch) and multifocal AA(if multiple patches). If complete loss from scalp then it is called as alopecia totalis. If loss from all hair bearing areas (scalp, face, legs, armpits etc.) then it is called as alopecia universalis. If there is absence of well defined patches and there is rather diffuse hair loss from scalp then it is called as diffuse alopecia areata. If there is loss from a band like area from sides of the scalp, it is called as ophiasis type of alopecia areata. Usually the patchy alopecia areata has a good outcome though relapses are common and unpredictable.Worst outcome is in alopecia universalis. Others fall in between. From good outcome to poor outcome- focal AA, multifocal AA, diffuse AA, ophiasis, alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis.

I hope this will clear the doubts about the type of disease you have.
Dr Pankaj (DrPanx)
Permalink Reply by Kristen Viveros on June 14, 2009 at 5:05pm
Thank you... yes that helped me to better understand whats going on with me. I have one large area in the back which has a tiny bit of regrowth but is very slow. In the first episode I got the one in the back, as i said, along with two new ones on either side of my head. I shaved my head and when I let it grow out a little I noticed that the side patches had completely filled in with the rest of my hair. The one in the back is still there and I am now on episode number 2. I woke up yesterday morning with two small patches on either side of my head and one larger one right on the crown of my head. So I have shaved my head once more. I'm think that if I catch them early and shave them that they will fill back in. But as for the big spot in the back with its tiny bit of regrowth, I don't think that one is going to grow back in. So I just keep my head shaven until I see that all of them are growing in together. If not... I guess I will be bald for the rest of my life.
Thank you Dr. Panx.
xoxo
Kristen.

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