Definition

Noun: A condition characterized by the sudden appearance of small, round, smooth patches of hair loss on the scalp or other areas of the body. It is an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles.

Usage and Examples

Noun: - The dermatologist diagnosed the patient's patchy hair loss as alopecia areata. - Alopecia areata often begins with one or more coin-sized bald spots. - Support groups can be helpful for people coping with the emotional effects of alopecia areata.

Advanced Usage

• "to have alopecia areata": to be affected by the condition.
  • She has had alopecia areata since she was a teenager.
• "suffering from alopecia areata": experiencing the condition.
  • He is suffering from alopecia areata, but the hair may regrow spontaneously.

Variants and Related Words

• Alopecia (noun): The general medical term for hair loss from the scalp or body.
  • Androgenetic alopecia is common male-pattern baldness.
• Areata (adjective, used medically): Denoting areas that are affected in a patchy manner.
  • The term areata describes the patchy nature of the condition.

Synonyms

• Patchy baldness: A descriptive synonym for the condition's appearance.
• Spot baldness: Another term emphasizing the localized nature of the hair loss.

Related Phrases and Terms

• Autoimmune disorder: The category of disease to which alopecia areata belongs.
  • Alopecia areata is classified as an autoimmune disorder.
• Hair follicle: The structure from which hair grows, which is targeted in this condition.
  • In alopecia areata, lymphocytes attack the hair follicles.

Noun

1. patchy baldness