More Than Hair Loss: 5 Symptoms of Alopecia Areata

When most people think of alopecia areata, they often think of someone with hair loss on their scalp. 

“Alopecia Areata is a condition where your immune system attacks your hair follicles,” says Lindsey Bordone, MD, Dermatologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York. “It's one of the more alarming physical autoimmune conditions because you feel fine [yet] your hair is rapidly falling out.”

However, alopecia areata may cause additional symptoms that people may be less aware of.

What are the symptoms of alopecia areata?

Symptoms of alopecia areata most commonly start in someone’s teens, 20s, or 30s — but the condition may begin at any time. Symptoms may include:

• Sudden hair loss in isolated patches on the scalp

• Loss of facial hair in men

• Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes

• Nail changes

• Hair loss throughout the body

Not everyone with alopecia areata will have all of these symptoms. Some people only have patches of hair loss on the scalp. Some only have hair loss on the eyelashes and eyebrows. Some may have complete hair loss everywhere (a subtype known as alopecia universalis). 

What does the hair loss from alopecia areata look like?

“The typical presentation is when someone loses patches of hair on different parts of their scalp,” says Dr. Bordone. “The bald patches look like someone just shaved off a piece of your scalp. Usually, they're completely bald and they [look] like coin-sized circles across your scalp.”

Less commonly, hair loss may affect the entire scalp or the entire body.

What do nail changes from alopecia areata look like?

Some people with alopecia areata experience changes to the nails. This may look like pits, ridges, or other deformations in the nails. In some cases, the nail may come off. Nail changes are generally associated with more severe alopecia areata.

If you are noticing symptoms of alopecia areata, see your primary care doctor or a dermatologist. They can help you rule out other possible conditions, find a diagnosis, and create a treatment plan.