Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss, or balding. Alopecia areata is a particular form of balding that makes up only a tiny minority of hair loss in males and females. 95% of all hair loss is a result of DHT, a hormone made by a certain enzyme combining with testosterone in the hair follicle.
Alopecia areata, like standard male pattern or female pattern balding, is usually a temporary hair loss condition, but can cause permanent hair loss in some. The reason for the hair loss is actually an autoimmune disorder. Fortunately, for those who are diagnosed with alopecia areata, this autoimmune disease is not serious like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, or Celiac Disease, although it can be connected with them.
Instead of attacking some vital internal structure of the body, this autoimmune disease causes the immune system to attack hair follicles. The hair follicles contain a papilla, a clump of rapidly multiplying cells that combine protein with other nutrients to make the hair grow.
The immune cells attack the hair follicle at the papilla, effectively ending the production of hair. This condition can run in families and generally shows up in childhood with patches of missing hair or overall thinning. Half of these patients will outgrow the condition within a year, but others may require treatment with steroid products or hair restoration.
Primarily, alopecia areata affects the scalp, but it can also affect hair on the body. The cause of this disorder is still unknown, but it is suspected to be a result of genetic heredity.