Prognosis
In general, people with a milder form of circular hair loss and a shorter course of disease have better chances of recovery than people with severe hair loss and a long history of disease. However, the classic, non-healing, circular hair loss has a very variable prognosis overall. In many cases, the hair loss heals and the hair grows back within six months, in other people it continues to develop, for example to diffuse hair loss or complete hair loss.
A relapsing-remitting course has also been described, in which temporary circular hair loss occurs repeatedly at intervals of months to years, which then disappears again. Approximately 70% of those affected suffer one or more relapses (recurrences) in the course of their lives. In one fifth of those affected, alopecia does not heal and the areas remain bald.
Recurrences are more common, especially when the hair loss is associated with an autoimmune disease. How long it takes for the hair to grow back completely depends on various factors. The type and cause of the hair loss is usually decisive, as well as the early start of a therapy.
A fungal infection of the scalp, for example, heals within a few weeks under an antimycotic, i.e. against fungal pathogens effective, therapy. It can take a few months until the hair has completely regrown. Even with autoimmune hair loss, the regrowth of hair can take several months. Scarring alopecia, on the other hand, heals with scarring. Unfortunately, the areas of hair loss remain permanently bald in this case.
Prophylaxis
There is no prophylaxis against circular hair loss. Since the causes of the disease are not conclusively clarified, but a genetic predisposition is discussed, circular hair loss cannot be specifically prevented. Avoiding the trigger factors can, however, have a supportive effect in patients with the disease. In general, stress should be reduced and a healthy lifestyle should be chosen.
Circular hair loss in women
Although the classic circular hair loss mostly affects men, women can of course also be affected. This type of circular hair loss is more common during periods of psychological strain and stress. A possible cause of circular hair loss, which affects women far more often than men, is traumatic alopecia.
This involves damage to and alteration of the hair structure by pressure or pulling. A typical cause is the wearing of strict braids or other hairstyles. Hair ornaments and hair hoods can also cause such traumatic alopecia.
There is also a specific clinical picture which leads to scarring hair loss and affects mainly young women. This is the Alopecia atrophicans, also called pseudopelade Brocq. This disease, the cause of which is not known, mainly affects women between the ages of 30 and 35. Typical for this rare disease are light, irregularly limited skin areas on the head, which do not hurt or cause other complaints. After some time, the areas scar over, so that the hair loss is permanent.
