Learn more about just how long alopecia areata hair loss usually lasts, as well as if hair loss can happen again, and if there is a cure for alopecia.
Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that affects about 1 in every 50 people at some time in their lives. This type of hair loss normally first presents before the age of 30, and tends to occur in men and women in equal amounts.
Alopecia areata can be an easily identified form of hair loss, as the hair tends to quickly fall out in round clumps, leaving behind round bald spots about the size of a large coin.
If you are dealing with alopecia areata, you are probably very concerned with the potential timeline of shedding and regrowth to help put your mind at ease. Below, we will cover the average timelines experienced by those dealing with alopecia areata to help you better know what to expect.
Also Read: What Are the 5 Types of Alopecia? Symptoms and Differences Between These Forms of Scalp Hair Loss
For most people dealing with shedding from alopecia areata, the bald spots formed from the hair loss tend to last anywhere from a few months to a year. Luckily, after this time period, most people see hair regrow from the bald patches.
The newly regrown hair may seem finer, fluffier, or less pigmented than usual, but will return to its normal color and texture with time.
Less commonly with alopecia areata patients, the spots will continue spreading and may not fully regrow in time.
Eventually, this may lead to complete hair loss on the head (alopecia totalis) or even complete whole-body hair loss (alopecia universalis), although these situations are rare.
Even though most people will find that their bald spots fill in again after alopecia areata hair loss, there is no promise that more spots won’t happen again at some point.
Alopecia may reoccur in the time period of months, years, or stop altogether.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the immune system is incorrectly triggered to attack the hair follicles.
So, if your immune system becomes triggered in this way again, more patches can pop up.
Read Related: Is an Itchy Scalp Related to Hair Loss? Scalp Itching and Shedding Explained
There is currently no cure for alopecia areata, and you may be on the lookout for more patches throughout your life.
However, there are potential treatments to help reduce losses during shedding or help boost regrowth after the fact.
Treatments may include topical or injectable steroids, topical minoxidil (Rogaine), medications to calm the immune response, topical irritants, and immunotherapy.
If you are experiencing hair loss in line with alopecia areata, talk to your doctor to see if a treatment option may be a good fit for you.
At Strut, we offer prescription hair loss medications to help reduce shedding and potentially boost regrowth.
We mainly focus on hair loss from male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss, and only treat adults over the age of 18.
We offer a variety of medications in both topical and oral formulations to help suit your preferences and lifestyle.
If you are experiencing hair loss and want to see if a prescription treatment may be a good option for you, you can have a free online questionnaire and image-based telemedicine consultation today.
If a prescription medication is a good option for you, your treatment can be shipped to your front door with our free shipping.
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