Perhaps the most famous sufferer of alopecia areata, Gail Porter, recently appeared on British TV sporting a full head of her own hair. This is despite having spent five years with no hair whatsoever, to the extent that at one point, she lost her eyebrows and eyelashes.
This goes to show that it is quite possible that alopecia areata sufferers will recover. Although the effects of the disorder are devastating, all that is actually happening is that the hairs are entering the rest phase of their growth cycle, something which all hairs enter intermittently anyway. The effect is created by the fact that all hairs enter this phase simultaneously and remain in it, meaning no new hair grows.
However, as the hair follicles remain undamaged, it is quite possible that they can grow hairs again. Porter initially started seeing new hair growth as long ago as 2006, but it has taken until now for her to fully recover as the progress of alopecia areata is unpredictable. She believes that recent improvements have been down to a reduction in stress through finding love.
If you experience hair loss, do not assume that is alopecia areata. Pay a visit to your doctor or a dermatologist who can correctly diagnose you.