As you may know, alopecia is a hair loss condition which can cause some or all of the hair to fall out on the scalp and all over the body. There are three main types – alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. No matter which of the three varieties of the condition a sufferer has, alopecia can be both frightening and debilitating.
After looking at the main points of alopecia areata, we will now focus our attention on the next most serious condition.
Alopecia totalis
Whilst alopecia areata involves the loss of hair in small patches, alopecia totalis is the term used to describe the total loss of hair on the scalp. This autoimmune condition – in which the body attacks the hair follicles and stops hair from growing – often also involves the sufferer losing all facial hair, eyelashes and eyebrows.
The most famous alopecia totalis sufferer at the moment is TV presenter Gail Porter, who lost her trademark blonde hair five years ago after going through a divorce and post-natal depression. Although she still occasionally experiences some setbacks, her hair is now in the process of growing back.