Alopecia totalis

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Disease Overview

Alopecia totalis (AT) is a condition characterized by the complete loss of hair on the scalp. It is an advanced form of alopecia areata a condition that causes round patches of hair loss.[7603] Although the exact cause of AT is unknown, it is thought to be an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles.[3426] Roughly 20% of affected people have a family member with alopecia, suggesting that genetic factors may contribute to the development of AT.[7907] There is currently no cure for AT, but sometimes hair regrowth occurs on it’s own, even after many years.[731][732]


Synonyms

  • Loss of all scalp hair

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National Organization for Rare Disorders