What is alopecia areata?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammatory cells to target the hair follicle, thus preventing hair growth. It is characterized by patchy loss of hair often starting with a small round patch.

How do members experience alopecia areata?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with alopecia areata*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for alopecia areata*

*Data from patients with alopecia areata, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with alopecia areata*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Rogaine Extra Strength)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
alopecia areata (1)

*Data from patients with alopecia areata, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has alopecia areata on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 3
20s 24
30s 53
40s 86
50s 50
60s 38
70+ 13

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 78
Female 196