Alopecia Areata: support, research and awareness
Life doesn't pause for Alopecia Areata. Neither do we.
What is Alopecia Areata?
The word “Alopecia” means hair loss. The word "Areata" means "patchy" or "in areas". Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease that results in patchy hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere on the body.
It can range from small, individual smooth patches of hair loss to the total loss of all hair on the body—including ear and nose hair. Alopecia Areata is not uncommon; current estimates suggest that 2% of the population will be affected by the condition at some point in their lifetime. It can affect people of all ages, genders and ethnicities, but most commonly presents during childhood.
How can we support you?
Newly Diagnosed
I’ve been diagnosed
Find the right support, learn from other members of the community who have been where you are now. Here you will find:
+ Connections to the right practitioners,
+ Information on options open to you,
+ AAAF’s support programs,
+ Community Support Networks
+ Connections to the right practitioners,
+ Information on options open to you,
+ AAAF’s support programs,
+ Community Support Networks
Resources for Parents and Support People
My child has been diagnosed
Parenting a child with Alopecia Areata presents its own set of challenges. Think of these as a collection of resources that have helped many families in the last few decades in the same position as you.
+ Resources to help you navigate this along with your child,
+ Information on options open to you,
+ AAAF’s support programs,
+ Resources to help you navigate this along with your child,
+ Information on options open to you,
+ AAAF’s support programs,
Resources for Youth
I’m a Youth living with Alopecia Areata
Hitting youth on its own is a wild ride, let alone navigating it with the added challenges Alopecia Areata creates:
+ Resources onnavigating job interviews, dating, school, and the social stuff nobody talks about,
+ Wig and brow tutorials,
+ AAAF’s support programs for you,
+ Community Support Networks,
+ Resources onnavigating job interviews, dating, school, and the social stuff nobody talks about,
+ Wig and brow tutorials,
+ AAAF’s support programs for you,
+ Community Support Networks,
Peer and Mental Health Support Resources
I’m looking for Peer & Mental Health Support
Alopecia Areata… it’s life changing, but you are never alone. Here we’ve curated a collection of resources to make the more difficult days easier and have them occur less often. Many of our community members learn to love their Alopecia Areata. On this page find:
+ Mind body Mindfulness Practices,
+ Tips and advice for the bad days,
+ Community Support Networks,
+ Mental health support networks,
+ Mind body Mindfulness Practices,
+ Tips and advice for the bad days,
+ Community Support Networks,
+ Mental health support networks,
Get Involved
I’d like to get involved
Join our mission to support, educate, and advocate for the Alopecia Areata community. Every contribution makes a meaningful impact. Here you’ll find:
+ How to individually volunteer or become a corporate sponsor,
+ How to fundraise,
+ How to get involved in donating hair,
+ How to individually volunteer or become a corporate sponsor,
+ How to fundraise,
+ How to get involved in donating hair,
Donate
Make a Donation
Everything AAAF does is community funded. No government support, no corporate backing. If this community has helped you, or you want to help others find it, your donation goes directly to the work that matters: support, education, and research.
It’s only natural you have questions. Answers directly from our community for the very questions they asked along their own journey…
FAQ
We have a full guide complete with resources for you at this stage of your journey. We always recommend booking in with a dermatologist and going to your GP to get a blood test done. This provides your health care providers to rule out any other potential causes of hair loss, and enables your practitioner to screen for other autoimmune conditions.
Your dermatologist will talk you through potential treatment options based on your specific circumstances. However, if you're curious on the options available, our treatment guide is the perfect place to begin.
Your dermatologist will talk you through potential treatment options based on your specific circumstances. However, if you're curious on the options available, our treatment guide is the perfect place to begin.
Not yet. Research is ongoing and AAAF actively funds and supports studies into new treatments, working alongside some of the world’s leading dermatologists. If you'd like to find out more about our research or treatment options click below.
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, not an illness in the way many people assume. It is not infectious, not caused by poor hygiene, and not something that can be passed on through contact. So no, you cannot catch Alopecia Areata from another person. People with Alopecia Areata are otherwise healthy and living full lives.
It depends on the type and extent of the condition, but there is every opportunity your hair will grow back, sometimes naturally and other times through treatment. The unpredictability is part of what makes Alopecia Areata so difficult to live with, and comments like “at least it will grow back” can be hard to hear when you simply don’t know.
It's entirely normal to feel the grief of the fact that a part of you has been lost. It's not just hair.
It's entirely normal to feel the grief of the fact that a part of you has been lost. It's not just hair.
Latest News
Join Our ‘Then and Now’ Challenge – Share Your Journey!
AAAF AGM Recap & PBS Update
Connect on our support groups
Support groups are a fantastic way to get in touch with other people who are living with Alopecia Areata, to ask questions and find new friends. AAAF has support groups, run as a closed group on Facebook, in most states. They are a key way that AAAF communicates new projects, support resources and events within the community, so joining is a fantastic way to stay in the loop.
For our state-based groups, please only request to join the group for the state that you live in. The Men’s Support Group and Teen’s Support Group are open Australia-wide.
For our state-based groups, please only request to join the group for the state that you live in. The Men’s Support Group and Teen’s Support Group are open Australia-wide.
Latest Community Stories
Frequently Asked Questions
Alopecia Areata can affect anyone — males or females of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. It often starts in childhood. See the full infographic here Inflammation develops around hair follicles, causing them to shrink and stop producing hair. The immune system mistakenly attacks the follicles, but the exact trigger isn’t fully understood. See the full […]
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