Your Health Questions
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Autoimmune hair loss (most often alopecia areata) happens when the immune system—especially autoreactive CD8+ T cells—mistakenly attacks hair follicles after a collapse of their normal immune privilege, on a background of genetic susceptibility and triggers like infections, psychological stress, skin injury, or chemical irritants. It often coexists with other autoimmune diseases (e.g., thyroid disease, vitiligo), which can shape testing and treatment—there are several factors to consider; see below for crucial details on signs, diagnosis, therapies, and when to seek care.

Alopecia areata patches are smooth, well-defined round or oval bald spots with normal-colored skin and no scaling or scarring, appearing on the scalp or any hair-bearing area and ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters; they may be single or multiple. Up close (often with magnification), you can see clues like short “exclamation-mark” hairs at the edges, black dots (broken hairs), yellow dots (keratin/sebum), and fine vellus regrowth. There are several factors to consider—such as how to tell it from infection or scarring hair loss and when to seek evaluation or testing—so see below for key visuals, patterns, and next steps that could guide your care.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to sudden, smooth round or oval patches of hair loss on the scalp, face, or body; it can occur at any age and affects about 2% of people. There are several factors to consider—triggers, who’s at risk, key signs (including nail changes), diagnosis, prognosis, and treatments from steroids to newer JAK inhibitors—that can influence your next steps; see the complete details below.

Ophiasis pattern alopecia is a subtype of alopecia areata marked by a snake-like, band of hair loss along the sides (temporal) and lower back (occipital) of the scalp due to autoimmune attack on hair follicles. It often has a more persistent course and can be harder to treat than typical patchy alopecia areata—there are several factors to consider. See below for important details that could influence your next steps, including triggers, diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis.

Trichoscopy is a non-invasive exam of the scalp and hair using a lighted magnifier (dermoscope) to visualize microscopic hair-shaft and scalp changes, helping clinicians differentiate causes of hair loss (e.g., alopecia areata, pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium, scarring alopecias) and often avoid a biopsy. There are several factors to consider, including what it can and can’t show, how to prepare, and red‑flag symptoms that need urgent care—see below for complete details that may guide your next steps.

Alopecia types include non-scarring (often reversible) forms—such as androgenetic (male/female pattern), alopecia areata (including totalis/universalis), telogen and anagen effluvium, traction alopecia, trichotillomania, tinea capitis, and alopecia mucinosa—and scarring (cicatricial, permanent) forms like lichen planopilaris/frontal fibrosing alopecia, discoid lupus of the scalp, and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia; rare congenital types include atrichia with papular lesions and hypotrichosis. There are several important distinctions that affect diagnosis and treatment—see details below on patterns, causes, reversibility, and when to seek urgent care, which can guide your next steps.

Yes, adults can get RSV, and it can be quite serious, especially for older adults or those with weakened immune systems.

Certain creams, like Kampo herbal ointments, might help with healing skin problems like chilblains, but more research is needed. Some medicines are also used to treat chilblains, but home remedies are not well-studied.

Yes, poor circulation and Raynaud's syndrome can make chilblains worse because they affect blood flow to the skin.

Yes, shingles on the face can cause long-term nerve pain and vision problems.

Yes, the shingles vaccine can help prevent shingles on the face or eyes.

Chest pain from the heart often feels like pressure or squeezing and may come with shortness of breath, while pain from other causes can be sharp or related to movement.

Frostbite can cause your fingers or toes to feel very cold, numb, and change color, often becoming white or grayish-yellow. If you notice these signs, it's important to warm them up gently and seek medical help if needed.

The common cold and RSV can have similar symptoms, but RSV often causes more severe breathing problems, especially in young children and older adults.

Shingles is a skin rash that often appears as a band on one side of the body and can be painful, while other rashes may look different and not cause pain.

Chilblains can be managed at home by keeping affected areas warm and dry, avoiding sudden temperature changes, and moisturizing the skin. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice.

Chest pain from shingles is often sharp and located on one side, while heart-related pain can feel like pressure or squeezing in the center of the chest.

RSV treatment mainly involves supportive care, but there are some antiviral medicines being developed to help fight the virus.

Shingles near the eye, called herpes zoster ophthalmicus, needs quick treatment with antiviral medicine and sometimes extra care to protect the eye, unlike regular shingles.

Shingles is treated with antiviral medications, which work best if started within 72 hours of the rash appearing.

You should start taking antiviral medicine within 48 hours of flu symptoms beginning for the best results.

The shingles vaccine, Shingrix, is recommended for adults to prevent shingles, especially as they get older. It's best to get vaccinated even if you have had shingles before.

Early signs of fluid around the lungs, called pleural effusion, can include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and a cough. It's important to seek medical attention if you notice these symptoms.

Before the shingles rash appears, you may feel pain, tingling, or itching in a specific area on one side of your body or face.

To help a child recover from RSV at home, parents should ensure the child gets plenty of rest, stays hydrated, and is kept away from smoke and other irritants.

To relieve shingles pain and itching at home, you can try cool compresses, oatmeal baths, and over-the-counter pain relievers. These methods may help soothe your skin and reduce discomfort.

Chilblains are caused by exposure to cold and damp conditions, affecting the small blood vessels in the skin. They are most common in women and people with certain blood vessel conditions.

Shingles on the face or around the eye can appear as a painful rash with blisters, often on one side of the face. It can cause itching and discomfort.

Chilblains and frostbite are both cold-related injuries, but chilblains are less severe and occur from repeated exposure to cold, while frostbite involves freezing of the skin and tissues.

If shingles affects your eye, you might feel pain, see redness, or notice a rash around your eye. It's important to see a doctor if you think your eye is involved.