Alopecia is a hair loss condition that comes in three different varieties, all of which entail complete loss of hair in a given area. The most common of the three variants is alopecia areata. This form appears on small places on the scalp or face and causes small, about the size of a dime upwards to the size of a quarter in most cases, spots of total hair loss. The second type of alopecia is alopecia totalis. This results in total baldness of the scalp. The final, and most rare variant, is alopecia universalis, which results in the entire body, head to toe, being completely devoid of hair.

The most common form of alopecia usually is concentrated on the scalp but it is not uncommon for bald patches to appear on the face as well. Men with beards may find patches missing from their facial hair and both men and women can lose eyelashes and eyebrows from alopecia appearing.

Regardless of the variety of alopecia, the condition stems from the same source. Alopecia is not a contagious disease. One cannot give it to someone else through contact or fluid exchange. Instead, alopecia is thought to be based in genetics. While it is still unclear exactly what causes alopecia, many researchers believe that the condition is inherited genetically. A person who has relatives or family members with alopecia is much more likely to suffer from the condition than people who do not.

The most common cause of alopecia postulated is that the condition is an autoimmune disease. These conditions involves a hyperactive immune system that targets healthy tissue mistakenly due to inaccurate internal information being processed or due to some environmental or emotional trigger. Evidence that supports this hypothesis include the formation of T cell lymphocytes, common antibodies in the bloodstream, congregating around hair follicles, resulting in inflammation and hair loss. These T cells are often seen in abundance in the scalps of people who suffer from alopecia.

It is further believed that alopecia can lay dormant in a person for years, even decades, until it is activated through some unknown trigger. Researchers have hypothesized that these triggers may be linked to some stage of hormonal development that activates the dormant inherited gene. Other theories speculate that some form of pathogen triggers the dormant genes and causes the symptoms of alopecia to appear.

Regardless, alopecia, whatever the variety may be, is a treatable condition that a medical professional can diagnose and prescribe medication for. The most common form of treatment is a medicated steroid cream that reverses the overactive T cells and allows the hair follicle to re-grow hair. Stress reduction therapies are also important as alopecia can be furthered or aggravated by heightened levels of stress. Steroid injections are also available to patients who suffer from severe alopecia or are non responsive to topical creams. Most cases of alopecia can be reversed, resulting in lost hair being regained. Nevertheless, there is a risk that hair lost may not return or it will return less full or discolored than it was previously.