Losing hair...and fast!

Hi,
   I'm a 22 year old male. I've always had great hair all my life. About 6 months ago, i developed a small bald circular patch (about 1 cm in diameter) on my head, very characteristic of Alopecia Areata. I have had similar tiny patches occur twice before when I was very young, but they disappeared in a couple of weeks. The recent patch has disappeared to an extent, but I seem to have significant thinning of hair all over my scalp. The hair growth has gotten very scanty all over my head, which has never happened before, and all this in the last 6 months. Its quite depressing to see what used to be great hair, wind up this way, this fast.
   I try to maintain a very balanced diet, and apart from my hair, i'm pretty healthy. I dont think its genetically linked....nobody in my family has had significant hair loss before they hit 50!
   Is this thinning and scantiness of hair linked to the episode of alopecia areata? Is there anything I can do about it?
   Thanks!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

James:

The generalized thinning almost certainly has nothing to do with the alopecia areata patch.  You should see a dermatologist to evaluate the hair loss.  is it sudden, falling out all over the place (sounds like no.)  It may be genetic, whether your family memebers are thin up top or not.  Whether you should consider minoxidil or Propecia depends on diagnosis.  The alopecia areata will get better on its own.  Take my advice: see a doctor and get the condition squared away.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff