Alopecia Areata is a disorder characterized by loss of hair. Sometimes, this means simply a few bare patches on the scalp. In other cases, hair loss is more extensive. Although the exact cause is not known, this is thought to be an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system, the body’s own defense system, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny structures from which hairs grow. Unpredictable hair loss is the only noticeable symptom of this disorder. Regrowth of hair may or may not occur. Hair loss is usually confined to the head and face, although the entire body may be involved. The physical manifestations of this disorder may not be as difficult to handle for some individuals as the emotional ones. Most people with Alopecia Areata are generally healthy otherwise, and the disorder itself is not a sign of a serious or life-threatening disease.