Your questions answered
These are some of the most common questions asked by those either with Alopecia Areata or those that are wondering the best way to support those they love. Each answer is one built upon the input of the AAAF community.
About the condition
No. Alopecia Areata is a broad medical term for hair loss of any kind, and there are many types. Using it precisely matters, because the wrong term can lead to the wrong diagnosis, the wrong support, and confusion when raising awareness.
AAAF focuses specifically on Alopecia Areata and its variants, including Alopecia Totalis (complete scalp hair loss) and Alopecia Universalis (complete loss of all body hair).
AAAF focuses specifically on Alopecia Areata and its variants, including Alopecia Totalis (complete scalp hair loss) and Alopecia Universalis (complete loss of all body hair).
Alopecia Areata is diagnosed primarily through a clinical examination by a doctor or dermatologist, looking at your medical history, and checking the pattern of hair loss.
No. You cannot “catch” Alopecia Areata from another person.
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. It is not infectious, not caused by poor hygiene, and not something that can be passed on through contact.
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. It is not infectious, not caused by poor hygiene, and not something that can be passed on through contact.
This is one of the most common misconceptions. Many people in our community are clear on this: “It is not caused by stress.”
Many people associate sudden hair loss or greying with severe trauma. While a life-threatening illness or shock can indeed trigger widespread hair shedding, this condition is not Alopecia Areata. Instead, it is a temporary form of hair loss known as telogen effluvium.
For some people, stress may aggravate the condition or contribute to a flare, but it is not the underlying cause, and many people experience hair loss with no stressful trigger at all.
Many people associate sudden hair loss or greying with severe trauma. While a life-threatening illness or shock can indeed trigger widespread hair shedding, this condition is not Alopecia Areata. Instead, it is a temporary form of hair loss known as telogen effluvium.
For some people, stress may aggravate the condition or contribute to a flare, but it is not the underlying cause, and many people experience hair loss with no stressful trigger at all.
It’s complicated, and many people in our community are surprised to find there’s no simple yes or no. Sometimes, Alopecia Areata appears with no family history and no clear explanation. As one person shared: “The reason you have alopecia can’t always be explained.”
The fuller picture is that Alopecia Areata is polygenic, meaning a combination of changes across many genes appears to be involved, including genes that function in the hair and skin and in the immune system. It also shares genetic risk factors with other autoimmune conditions, which is why people with Alopecia Areata may also develop other autoimmune disorders, including vitiligo, lupus, and autoimmune thyroid diseases.
The risk of developing Alopecia Areata is greater for first-degree relatives of affected individuals than in the general population, but having a family member with the condition does not mean you will develop it, and many people have no family history at all.
In short: genes play a role, but they are not destiny, and Alopecia Areata cannot be traced to a single inherited cause.
The fuller picture is that Alopecia Areata is polygenic, meaning a combination of changes across many genes appears to be involved, including genes that function in the hair and skin and in the immune system. It also shares genetic risk factors with other autoimmune conditions, which is why people with Alopecia Areata may also develop other autoimmune disorders, including vitiligo, lupus, and autoimmune thyroid diseases.
The risk of developing Alopecia Areata is greater for first-degree relatives of affected individuals than in the general population, but having a family member with the condition does not mean you will develop it, and many people have no family history at all.
In short: genes play a role, but they are not destiny, and Alopecia Areata cannot be traced to a single inherited cause.
Yes, your hair can completely grow back. With Alopecia Areata, the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, but it does not permanently destroy them. Think of your follicles as being temporarily "switched off" or put on pause.
While the follicles are not dead, certain factors make spontaneous regrowth less likely:
Extensive Loss: If the hair loss progresses to the entire scalp (Alopecia Totalis) or the whole body (Alopecia Universalis), it is much harder for the hair to return without aggressive medical treatment.
Duration: If a patch has remained completely bald for more than a year without change, it is less likely to regrow on its own.
If you're interested, take a look a the remission statistics for Alopecia Areata
While the follicles are not dead, certain factors make spontaneous regrowth less likely:
Extensive Loss: If the hair loss progresses to the entire scalp (Alopecia Totalis) or the whole body (Alopecia Universalis), it is much harder for the hair to return without aggressive medical treatment.
Duration: If a patch has remained completely bald for more than a year without change, it is less likely to regrow on its own.
Not yet. Research is ongoing and AAAF actively funds and supports studies into new treatments, working alongside some of the world’s leading dermatologists.
No. Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition, not an illness in the way many people assume. People with Alopecia are otherwise healthy and living full lives.
Identity and emotional impact
No, it’s so much more than that. Hair is tied to identity, to how we present ourselves to the world, and to how we feel in our own skin, and how we navigate the world. It is not just hair.
Deeply. While it’s not life threatening, it’s certainly life altering and can have a real impact on self-esteem and confidence.
Many people describe the early stages as frightening and isolating. “I couldn’t look in the mirror for so long.” Others speak of a longer journey toward acceptance: “I was sad, I cried, I was frustrated and annoyed, but I decided to live, being happy, changing, accepting myself as I am now.”
The emotional experience is not linear, and while for many people it does get easier over time, sometimes there are phases of your life that are emotionally trickier than others.
Many people describe the early stages as frightening and isolating. “I couldn’t look in the mirror for so long.” Others speak of a longer journey toward acceptance: “I was sad, I cried, I was frustrated and annoyed, but I decided to live, being happy, changing, accepting myself as I am now.”
The emotional experience is not linear, and while for many people it does get easier over time, sometimes there are phases of your life that are emotionally trickier than others.
That it is complex, ongoing, and deserves to be taken seriously. The impact is not just emotional. Many people live without eyebrows or eyelashes, which serve real protective functions, and navigate everyday situations, like wind, sun, or a day at the beach, differently as a result. The visible and invisible parts of living with Alopecia Areata are both real, and both matter.
What to say, and what not to say
Our community has heard it all. The comments that come up most often as hurtful, even when well-intentioned:
“It’s just hair”
“At least it’s not cancer”
“At least you save on haircuts and shampoo”
“At least you’re a boy, not a girl”
“I know someone who has cancer too”
Unsolicited advice about how to grow hair back
As one member explained: “Comments like ‘at least you save on haircuts and shampoo,’ or ‘at least it’s not cancer,’ even when meant kindly, can feel dismissive of a very real loss.”
“It’s just hair”
“At least it’s not cancer”
“At least you save on haircuts and shampoo”
“At least you’re a boy, not a girl”
“I know someone who has cancer too”
Unsolicited advice about how to grow hair back
As one member explained: “Comments like ‘at least you save on haircuts and shampoo,’ or ‘at least it’s not cancer,’ even when meant kindly, can feel dismissive of a very real loss.”
Yes. Curiosity is welcome, and asking is how understanding grows. What matters is that you listen to the answer, and lead with kindness.
To be seen and believed. Not solutions, not silver linings. Just the space to feel how they feel, and people around them who understand that what they say matters.
Children and Alopecia
No. Alopecia areata is not caused by parenting, environment, or anything a family did or didn’t do.
Significantly. Children with Alopecia Areata often face bullying and social difficulties that adults around them can underestimate. As one parent shared: “No one chooses it. Children can be so cruel. My daughter has been bullied for years about something she can’t control.”
The comparison one parent offered is a useful one: “If you don’t want to be picked on for having red hair, she doesn’t want to be picked on for having no hair.”
AAAF runs school education programs specifically to help create understanding and reduce stigma for children with Alopecia Areata.
The comparison one parent offered is a useful one: “If you don’t want to be picked on for having red hair, she doesn’t want to be picked on for having no hair.”
AAAF runs school education programs specifically to help create understanding and reduce stigma for children with Alopecia Areata.
Treatments
There is currently no cure for Alopecia Areata, and no single treatment works for everyone. Always consult your healthcare professional about what may be appropriate for you. Learn more through our treatment options guide.
Both Baricitinib and Ritlecitinib have received TGA approval for alopecia areata in Australia. However, neither is currently subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which means out-of-pocket costs can be significant. AAAF continues to advocate for PBS listing to improve access for Australians.
Speak to your dermatologist about whether a JAK inhibitor may be appropriate for you and what access options are currently available.
Speak to your dermatologist about whether a JAK inhibitor may be appropriate for you and what access options are currently available.
As with any medication, JAK inhibitors carry risks and these should be discussed carefully with your doctor. Regulatory agencies including the TGA have issued warnings advising cautious use for people with a history of cardiovascular disease, increased cancer risk, or those aged 65 and above.
It is worth noting that much of the safety data comes from studies on rheumatoid arthritis patients, who differ from the alopecia areata community in age profile and other health factors. Research into JAK inhibitor safety specific to Alopecia Areata is ongoing.
A warning does not mean a drug is inappropriate. It means the decision requires a thorough conversation between you and your healthcare provider, taking your individual circumstances and medical history into account.
It is worth noting that much of the safety data comes from studies on rheumatoid arthritis patients, who differ from the alopecia areata community in age profile and other health factors. Research into JAK inhibitor safety specific to Alopecia Areata is ongoing.
A warning does not mean a drug is inappropriate. It means the decision requires a thorough conversation between you and your healthcare provider, taking your individual circumstances and medical history into account.
*This information is provided for general awareness only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional.
