What are the symptoms of alopecia areata?
The typical pattern is for one or more bald patches to appear on the scalp. These tend to be round in shape, and about the size of a large coin. They develop quite quickly. A relative, friend, or hairdresser may be the first person to notice the bald patch or patches. Apart from the bald patch or patches, the scalp usually looks healthy and there is no scarring. Occasionally, there is some mild redness, mild scaling, mild burning, or a slight itchy feeling on the bald patches. The first picture shows several patches of alopecia on the scalp in someone with fairly extensive alopecia areata. The second picture shows an area of alopecia of the beard area. When a bald patch first develops, it is difficult to predict how it will progress. The following are the main ways it may progress: • Quite often the bald patch or patches re-grow hair within a few months. If hair grows back it may not have its usual colour at first and looks grey or white for a while. The usual colour eventually returns
