Alopecia Areata: When Hair Loss Becomes a Whisper from Within

You wake up and notice a small bald patch—round, smooth, and sudden. No itching. No scarring. Just emptiness where hair used to be. That’s often the first sign of alopecia areata, a condition where your immune system turns against your hair follicles.

At SkinWise Clinic, we understand that this kind of hair loss isn't just physical—it's deeply personal.

What Is Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, leading to hair loss—usually in round, well-defined patches.

It can affect:

• Scalp

• Eyebrows

• Eyelashes

• Beard area

• Or even the entire body in rare cases

The condition is non-scarring, meaning the follicles remain alive and regrowth is often possible.

What Does It Look Like?

• Smooth, round bald patches

• Often appears suddenly

• Hairs around the patch may look "exclamation-mark shaped"

• In some cases, nails may show pitting or ridging

Hair may regrow on its own—but the condition can relapse or spread unpredictably.

What Causes It?

The exact cause is unknown, but it’s believed to be a mix of:

• Genetics (family history of autoimmune conditions)

• Immune dysregulation

• Stress (emotional or physical)

• Viral infections or environmental triggers

Alopecia areata is not contagious and does not reflect poor hair care or hygiene.

Types of Alopecia Areata

• Patchy Alopecia Areata – Most common; round bald patches

• Alopecia Totalis – Complete loss of scalp hair

• Alopecia Universalis – Loss of all body hair

• Ophiasis – Band-like hair loss along the sides and back of the scalp

Is It Curable?

There’s no permanent cure, but many cases go into remission. With the right care, hair often regrows—and even if it doesn’t right away, medical therapies can stimulate follicles and prevent spread.

How We Treat Alopecia Areata at SkinWise Clinic

Our approach is customised, combining medical insight with emotional support:

🧴 Topical & Intralesional Therapy

• Topical corticosteroids to reduce local inflammation

• Minoxidil to stimulate growth

• Intralesional steroid injections—highly effective for small patches

💊 Oral Medications (in extensive or resistant cases)

• Steroids or immunosuppressants (short-term)

• JAK inhibitors (for severe cases; emerging treatments)

🌱 Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

• Natural stimulation using your body’s own growth factors

🧠 Mind-Body Support

• Stress management, counselling, and scalp care routines

• Advice on camouflage, hair styling, or trichology services

What to Expect

• Some patients experience complete regrowth

• Others go through cycles of shedding and regrowth

• Outcomes vary—but early intervention improves results

Patience is key. So is hope.