DESCRIPTION:

Alopecia areata (al-oh-PEE-shah air-ee-AH-tah) is a highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. This common but very challenging and capricious disease affects approximately 1.7 percent of the population overall, including more than 4.7 million people in the United States alone.

In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by a person's own immune system (white blood cells), resulting in the arrest of the hair growth stage. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis).

Description from: National Alopecia Areata Foundation

RECOMMENDED READING:

Alopecia Areata: Understanding and Coping With Hair Loss
Princess Alopecia
Hair Loss: Principles of Diagnosis and Management Alopecia
The Girl With No Hair: A Story About Alopecia Areata

LINKS OF INTEREST:

National Alopecia Areata Foundation
alopecia areata index - VERY extensive list of links!
Yahoo health directory - Several good sites listed