Symptoms and signs
The main symptom of autoimmune alopecia is hair loss and baldness. Most often the manifestations are localized on the head, in men there may be bald spots on the beard, and less often they are noticeable on other parts of the body.
Depending on the clinical picture, there are several types of autoimmune alopecia:
• multilobular — there are several gaps on the head;
• universal — hair falls out all over the body;
• ophasis is an unusual and rare form in which loss occurs in the form of a crown in the neck and ears;
• single flap — one focus of alopecia is observed;
• total — accompanied by complete loss of hair on the head and body.
The disease has a wave-like course. After the hair grows back, after a while it falls out again.
Autoimmune alopecia is also often accompanied by changes in the nails — they look like sandpaper, become furrowed, and are covered with whitish spots. The manifestations cause severe psychological discomfort to patients, especially women, and can even contribute to the development of depression.
At the first signs of alopecia, you should make an appointment with a doctor to find out the cause of the problem and choose the right therapy.