OBJECTIVE: To provide family physicians with a background understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, histology, and clinical approach to the diagnosis of @entity1663 ( @entity1663 ). SOURCES OF INFORMATION: PubMed was searched for relevant articles regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis of @entity1663 . MAIN MESSAGE: @entity1665 areata is a form of autoimmune hair loss with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 2%. A personal or family history of concomitant @entity792 , such as @entity1374 , might be noted in a small subset of @entity1 . Diagnosis can often be made clinically, based on the characteristic nonscarring, circular areas of hair loss, with small "exclamation mark" hairs at the periphery in those with early stages of the condition. The diagnosis of more complex cases or unusual presentations can be facilitated by biopsy and histologic examination. The prognosis varies widely, and poor outcomes are associated with an early age of onset, extensive loss, the @entity1666 variant, nail changes, a family history, or comorbid @entity792 . CONCLUSION: @entity1665 areata is an autoimmune form of hair loss seen regularly in primary care. Family physicians are well placed to identify @entity1663 , characterize the severity of disease, and form an appropriate differential diagnosis. Further, they are able educate their @entity1 about the clinical course of @entity1663 , as well as the overall prognosis, depending on the @entity1 subtype.

XXXX areata: Part 1: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis.

@entity1665 :: ('MESH:D000505', 'Disease') :: ['Alopecia'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity1666 :: ('MESH:C536159', 'Disease') :: ['ophiasis'] @entity792 :: ('MESH:D001327', 'Disease') :: ['autoimmune disorders'] @entity1663 :: ('MESH:D000506', 'Disease') :: ['AA', 'alopecia areata'] @entity1374 :: ('MESH:D013959', 'Disease') :: ['vitiligo or thyroid disease']
@entity1665 :: (MESH:D000505,Disease) :: ['Alopecia']
