Signs & Symptoms of Alopecia Totalis

Hair Basics

You have approximately 100,000 hairs on your scalp and you lose around 100 hairs per day. Hair has a growth and death cycle. Each hair typically lives for 4.5 years, on average, and grows about half an inch per month. After its fifth year, the hair will fall out and be replaced within six months. If your hair begins falling out in large clumps, or you have excessive hair loss when brushing or washing your hair, talk to your doctor. These signs may indicate some form of alopecia.

Alopecia totalis can begin as androgenic alopecia, which is often called male-pattern or female-pattern baldness. According to the Mayo Clinic, androgenic alopecia can affect both men and women, and is linked to excessive androgens, or male hormones, in the body. Alopecia totalis can also stem from an autoimmune disorder, disease or cancer treatment.

Alopecia totalis is the complete loss of hair on your scalp. Gradual loss may occur, starting as a receding hair line, thinning scalp or patchy baldness. Over time, you can lose more hair, eventually resulting in total baldness. In the case of illness or cancer treatment, large volumes of hair can be lost at once during brushing or washing. Autoimmune disorders, stress or hormonal changes can also trigger spontaneous hair loss. In these cases, hair can grow back, typically regrowing in six to eight months. If the hair follicle is scarred or permanently damaged, however, the hair cannot regenerate.

While alopecia totalis mean you have no hair on your head, you may wonder if you have the beginning signs of hair loss. Your doctor will look at your medical history, family history and perform a physical examination. He will examine your scalp for patterns and look at individual hairs. He may also gently pull several hairs to see if they fall out. Skin and blood samples may also be taken to help determine causes and rule out underlying diseases. If he believes you are beginning to lose your hair, he may recommend topical treatments, vitamins or medications to help slow loss or regrow hair. In most cases of total hair loss, however, hair does not grow back.