Get Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale (AASIS) - MD Anderson

In its initial development, severity was classified as S0 = no hair loss; S1 = 1–24% hair loss; S2 = 25–49% hair loss; S3 = 50–74% hair loss; S4 = 75–99% hair loss; and S5 = 100% hair loss.

Approximately 50 percent of people with mild alopecia areata recover within a year; however, most people will experience more than one episode during their lifetime. Approximately 1 person in 50 will suffer from alopecia areata at some point in their life. It occurs in men and women of all races equally.

People with the disease are usually healthy and have no other symptoms and a normal life expectancy.

Alopecia areata occurs worldwide. The estimated prevalence is approximately 1 in 1000 people, with a lifetime risk of approximately 2 percent [1,2]. Both children and adults may develop alopecia areata, and the disorder occurs at similar rates in males and females [1].

The prognosis varies widely, and poor outcomes are associated with an early age of onset, extensive loss, the ophiasis variant, nail changes, a family history, or comorbid autoimmune disorders.

Alopecia areata is not life-threatening and does not cause physical pain. However, the psychosocial effects of hair loss can be devastating. In addition, patients may experience symptoms related to hair loss, such as increased eye or nasal irritation after loss of eyelash or nasal hair.

Most people with alopecia areata are generally healthy otherwise, and the disorder itself is not a sign of a serious or life-threatening disease.

Anagen is the active growth phase lasting one to eight years. Catagen is a short involution phase lasting several weeks. Telogen is the resting phase lasting several months. Exogen is the shedding of the hair.