If you or your child has recently been diagnosed with alopecia areata, know this first and most important thing: You are not alone.
Alopecia areata can be overwhelming, confusing, and emotional—but there’s a strong, supportive community ready to stand by your side. Whether you’re noticing the first signs of hair loss, learning about your diagnosis, or exploring treatment options, NAAF is here to support you.
This page is designed to help you get started. Here, you’ll find brief, reliable information about the disease, current treatment options, and tips on working with your healthcare provider. All sections provide links to other areas of our website for more information and resources.
Every journey with alopecia areata is unique, but no one has to face it alone. NAAF and your care team are here to provide clarity, connection, and encouragement every step of the way.
Alopecia areata is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease that manifests most visibly as hair loss on the scalp, face, and sometimes other body areas, such as under the arms or on the legs. People with alopecia areata often experience hair loss in circular, coin-sized patches on the scalp; in more severe cases, they may lose all of their hair. About 2% of people across the world will experience alopecia areata at some point in their lifetime; including approximately 7 million people in the U.S. Some patients with patchy (mild) alopecia areata may experience spontaneous regrowth without treatment. The disease, however, can be cyclical, meaning people might experience times of hair loss and hair regrowth throughout their lifetime.
Alopecia areata can look different from person to person. Doctors use a few terms to describe the patterns and amount of hair loss, but all of them are part of the same disease.
Patchy alopecia areata: This is the most common form. Hair falls out in one or more small, round, or oval patches on the scalp or other areas where hair normally grows. Some people with mild, patchy alopecia areata may see their hair grow back on its own, even without treatment. For many, the patches can come and go over time, with periods of hair loss followed by regrowth.
Alopecia totalis: This form involves complete hair loss on the scalp.
Alopecia universalis: This is the most extensive form. It causes hair loss over the entire body, including the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and body hair.
Diffuse alopecia areata: Instead of clear patches, this type causes sudden, overall thinning across the scalp, which can look more like general hair shedding.
Ophiasis pattern: In this pattern, hair loss appears in a band along the sides and back of the head rather than in round patches.
Even though these names describe different patterns, they all reflect the same underlying disease—alopecia areata.
A new diagnosis of alopecia areata can have profound effects on your emotional health. Because it is unpredictable, visible, and often develops quickly, people living with alopecia areata may experience a wide range of feelings and challenges. Even if undergoing treatment and experiencing regrowth, it is still common to feel anxious and uncertain. For many people, hair is an integral part of their identity, and losing some or all of it can have a profound impact on their self-esteem. You may find yourself avoiding social outings or distancing yourself from friends and family.
Over time, however, many people reach a point of acceptance. This doesn’t mean losing hope or resigning to the diagnosis; it means finding a new balance, adjusting expectations, and learning to live fully and confidently, with or without hair.
It’s normal to feel sadness, frustration, and worry when dealing with hair loss. While it can feel challenging, there are many ways to nurture your emotional well-being and strengthen your sense of self. Talking with trusted friends, family, or a counselor can help you process those emotions and remind you that you are not alone. Support groups—whether online or in person—can also be a powerful source of encouragement and understanding. See more resources here.
NAAF’s You Are Not Alone Webinar series features a range of webinars on nurturing your well-being, including this one from community member and therapist Alison Mann: Supporting Your Self-Esteem: Tools for Living with Alopecia Areata.
For parents: Every child’s journey is different — some may regrow hair on their own, while others experience cycles of loss and regrowth. The condition does not affect overall health, but it can impact self-esteem, so emotional support and open conversations are key. NAAF offers a range of resources specifically designed for parents and children living with alopecia areata, including support groups, a youth mentor program, webinars, and educational resources for schools.
Dermatologists are specialists who focus on skin diseases and hair. If your primary care provider suspects you might have alopecia areata, they will likely refer you to a dermatologist. NAAF offers a Doctor Finder tool to help you find a healthcare provider near you with expertise (or experience) in treating alopecia areata.
Your dermatologist might make a diagnosis simply by evaluating your hair loss and gathering your medical history. In some cases, your dermatologist may conduct additional tests, such as a scalp biopsy (where a small portion of the skin from your scalp is removed and sent to a lab for testing) or examine your scalp under a dermatoscope. This specialty microscope enables your doctor to detect clinical signs of alopecia areata.
Once your physician determines your diagnosis, they will work with you to develop a treatment plan. This is a process called shared decision-making. Shared decision-making involves the patient (and the parent, if applicable) and healthcare provider weighing all factors and then, together, deciding what is best for the patient. The process ensures that the patient is engaged, informed, and included in the decision-making process.
Choosing treatment (or not) is a personal decision, regardless of the disease or disorder. Your doctor has the expertise; however, only you know how alopecia areata affects you or your child, so working closely with your healthcare provider is crucial.
Some people with alopecia areata opt to forgo treatment options and live with the disease. Their reasons might include:
Others might wish to cover or camouflage their hair loss while undergoing treatment.
No matter where you are on your alopecia areata journey, the choice is yours for how you wish to manage your disease.
For tools and techniques to manage hair loss, such as wigs, toppers, replacement eyebrows, and eyelashes, visit NAAF’s Confidence Guide: Wigs, Brows, and Other Tools for Managing Alopecia Areata.
For more information about treatments, visit Available Treatments.
Treatments for alopecia areata depend on the severity of the disease, the patient’s age, and whether there are any other co-occurring conditions, such as atopic dermatitis. Your dermatologist typically determines disease severity based on the extent of scalp hair loss, as well as other factors, such as eyelash and eyebrow involvement, and the duration of the disease.
For mild, patchy forms of the disease, treatments can include topical or intralesional corticosteroids and oral minoxidil. For those with more moderate disease, your provider might suggest pulse corticosteroids—a high dose of an oral steroid administered over a short period. Some physicians also offer contact immunotherapy, which involves applying a topical agent to the areas of hair loss to trigger a reaction, similar to an allergic rash, aimed at promoting regrowth.
Finally, most recently, the FDA has approved three new medications for the treatment of severe alopecia areata. All three are from a class of drugs known as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors:
For parents: Work with your provider to develop a treatment that is best for your child. There is currently one FDA-approved JAK inhibitor for the treatment of severe alopecia areata in adolescents aged 12 and older. However, some providers might prescribe treatment that is “off-label,” meaning it is not FDA-approved specifically for alopecia areata in children or teens, but is approved for other indications. Learn more about treatment for pediatric alopecia areata in this webinar by Dr. Britt Craiglow.
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) offers a supportive community for individuals and their families affected by alopecia areata.
Support Groups: One of our most valuable resources is a nationwide network of support groups, where individuals can connect in person or online, share their stories, and learn from one another. These groups provide a safe space for open discussion about the challenges of hair loss, offering support to others who truly understand. They are also a great way to learn about resources in your local community, and share recommendations on healthcare providers, tools and techniques for managing your hair loss.
Youth Mentor Program: NAAF also offers a peer mentor program that pairs individuals aged 5–18 with trained mentors who are young adults or adults living with alopecia areata, providing one-on-one guidance and emotional support.
Education and Information: NAAF helps patients and families better understand alopecia areata through its You Are Not Alone Webinar series, online educational content and toolkits, and NAAF’s Annual Conference. These resources offer clear and accessible explanations of treatment options, coping strategies, and the latest research findings. NAAF also provides information for parents, schools, and workplaces to support children and adults with alopecia areata in daily life. For those interested in learning about clinical trials, NAAF provides information on this page. These tools help reduce stigma, answer common questions, and promote awareness in the community.
NAAF Annual Conference: NAAF’s Annual Conference is often described as a life-changing experience for people with alopecia areata and their families. The conference brings together members of the alopecia areata community, their families, researchers, and other experts to share the latest updates on treatments, coping strategies, and research progress. One of the most powerful aspects of the conference is being surrounded by others who share a common understanding. For many, it’s the first time they’ve ever been in a room full of people with alopecia areata. This sense of belonging helps reduce feelings of isolation and creates lasting friendships. Families also connect with others navigating similar journeys, which can be especially meaningful for children and teens, who gather in the daily Youth Camp.
