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. It usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches.

This common but very challenging and capricious disease affects approximately 2% of the population overall, including more than 5 million people in the United States alone.

Just Diagnosed?