Alopecia

Alopecia areata is a condition characterized by sudden, patchy hair loss in one or more localized areas of the scalp. These lesions typically present as rounded, clearly defined, and completely hairless patches. At the margins of these affected areas, the remaining hairs are often short and broken. While the exact cause of alopecia areata remains unknown, it is widely considered to be an autoimmune disorder. This suggests that an unidentified factor mistakenly triggers an immune response against the hair follicles, thereby halting hair production. Essentially, the anagen phase—the active growth cycle of the hair—is abruptly interrupted. Furthermore, the condition frequently emerges following periods of severe stress and tends to affect genetically predisposed individuals. These individuals are often vulnerable to other potential triggering factors that are not yet fully understood, such as infections, endocrine dysfunctions, and malnutrition.