Nails may have a stippled "beaten copper" appearance with alopecia areata. Alopecia areata typically presents with sudden circular areas of hair loss without any other skin changes. This image displays hair follicles that are still present with some starting to regrow hair with slender, short stubs. This image displays a child with multiple areas of hair loss: behind the ear, at the frontal hairline, and the front part of the scalp. With alopecia areata, tiny "exclamation point hairs" can often be seen in the center of the bald spot. This image displays a normal, healthy scalp with alopecia areata. The skin where the hair is gone in alopecia looks completely normal.
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Hair Loss (Alopecia Areata):
A parent's guide to condition and treatment information

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Picture of Hair Loss (Alopecia Areata): Nails may have a stippled "beaten copper" appearance with alopecia areata. Divider line
Nails may have a stippled "beaten copper" appearance with alopecia areata.
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Signs and Symptoms
Hair loss most commonly occurs on the scalp, but it can affect the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, and other body areas. 

Alopecia areata appears as patchy areas of non-scarring hair loss and may be considered:
  • Mild – 1–5 scattered areas of hair loss on scalp (and beard of adults)
  • Moderate – More than 5 scattered areas of hair loss on the scalp (and beard of adults)
  • Severe – Loss of all of the hair on the scalp and body
Scalp burning, without redness, may also occur.

Hairs that grow back often have less color (hypopigmented or white) either temporarily or permanently. This hypopigmentation is not seen in other forms of alopecia.

Pits and ridges in the fingernails can also occur.
Last Modified: 18 Oct 2007

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