Appearance of alopecia areata
The hair loss is in sharply defined areas, usually of the scalp or beard. There can be slight to severe itching, prior to the hair fall, or no irritation at all. For some there are very sore spots before the hair fall with redness and eruption of a pimple. The hair will usually grow back within two to four months showing hairs (maybe white to start with) in the middle of the area and grows outward to fill the patch. It must be said that most people with alopecia areata are in good health and have no other associated diseases.
One of the characteristic signs of AA is the presence of exclamation mark hairs, these are tiny hairs that have broken off, at a weakened point of the hair shaft, and can be seen around the edge of a patch that is still active, meaning hairs still falling.
