Alopecia is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease that causes a sudden loss of hair. The scalp, beard, eyelashes, eyebrows, and body can all be affected.  To develop alopecia, an individual must have both a family history, and some type of environmental trigger. The most common presentation involves bald patches on the scalp or beard. The hair loss is very unpredictable, with periods of sudden hair loss, followed by spontaneous hair growth. The hairs affected by alopecia will have a characteristic “exclamation point” shape, making them more likely to fall out. There is no cure for alopecia, and the available treatments are mostly ineffective or have a very low response rate. The goal of most treatments is either to block the immune response or stimulate hair growth. Even with treatment, the hair may fall out again when the treatment is stopped.