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Alopecia totalis - back view of the head

Alopecia totalis - back view of the head

Overview

Hair loss is referred to as alopecia. Patchy hair loss on the scalp is called alopecia areata. Complete scalp hair loss is alopecia totalis. Loss of all body hair is called alopecia universalis.

Update Date 4/14/2015

Updated by: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.