Alopecia Universalis

Definition

Definition of Alopecia Universalis
Alopecia universalis or alopecia areata universalis is a medical condition involving rapid loss of all hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. It is the most severe form of alopecia areata, with an incidence of .001% (1 in 100,000).

Symptoms

Symptoms of Alopecia Universalis
The list of signs and symptoms for Alopecia universalis includes the 4 symptoms listed below:

1. Absence of body hair
2. Baldness
3. Absence of eyelashes
4. Absence of eyebrows

Causes

Causes of Alopecia Universalis
Alopecia universalis can occur at any age, and is currently believed to be an autoimmune disorder.

Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis of Alopecia Universalis
A rare form of extreme hair loss called "Atrichia with papular lesions" (APL) is often misdiagnosed as alopecia totalis. Researchers estimate that about 1 per 100 diagnoses of alopecia totalis are incorrect. See introduction to alopecia totalis.

Contagion

Contagion of Alopecia Universalis
Alopecia universalis is not caused by infection but by a person's hair follicles not producing hair. It is not considered contagious because it is most likely a genetic or immunodeficiency condition.

Treatment

Treatment of Alopecia Universalis
There is no 100 percent effective treatment for alopecia universalis, although topical immunotherapy works in about 40 percent of patients. The treatment works by placing a mild chemical irritant on the skin, which agitates the hair follicles and promotes hair growth. The treatment is ongoing and may take six months or more to show any improvement.