What You May Not Know About Alopecia

Moriah has been so open and honest about her experience with alopecia. Read on to learn all about the condition and catch her on new episodes of Welcome to Plathville every Tuesday at 9P!

April 21, 2026

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Understanding Alopecia

You may have heard the term "alopecia" before and associated it with baldness, but you may not know that it’s an autoimmune disease that impacts 147 million people worldwide.

This season on Welcome to Plathville, Moriah revealed that her alopecia caused so much hair loss that she shaved her head and switched to wearing wigs and lash strips instead. She even removed her wig for the first time in public while wig shopping with her siblings. Not only was it a beautiful moment for her, but it also helped bring awareness to the disease.

Read on for 9 facts you may not know about alopecia areata, as it’s officially called.

There Are Many Different Types of Alopecia Areata

There isn't one universal alopeica condition. In fact, there are several forms.

Patchy Alopecia Areata: hair loss occurs in coin-sized patches, usually round or oval on the scalp or other parts of the body that grow hair. It commonly remains patchy but can progress.

Alopecia Areata Totalis: a type of alopecia areata that results in hair loss across the entire scalp.

Alopecia Areata Universalis: This results in hair loss across the entire body, including eyebrows and eyelashes and body hair and is considered the most severe form of alopecia.

Diffuse Alopecia Areata: Often the most difficult to diagnose because it can look like other forms of baldness. It’s the sudden and unexpected thinning of the hair all over the scalp.

Ophiasis Alopecia: Alopecia that comes in a pattern with hair loss that occurs as a band along the sides and back of the head.

The Follicles Remain

Even though alopecia areata causes hair loss, the hair follicles remain alive. This means it is possible to regrow hair, even after many years of hair loss.

Great Progress Is Being Made

In 2022, the FDA approved three medications for severe disease, with many other treatments being studied.

Hair Loss Is Only One Symptom

Another symptom is burning or itching in the areas where you lost hair (up to 14% of people experience this). Hair loss that occurs during winter months with fewer flare ups in warmer weather is an additional one. You can also look out for the growth of gray or white hairs in the spots that are mostly bald or hair that starts to regrow but breaks off quickly, often referred to as "exclamation point" hair. And finally, tingling, itching, or burning sensations in the areas just before losing the hair.

Alopecia Can Affect Your Nails

While hair loss is the primary symptom, some people with more severe forms of alopecia, and children with the autoimmune disease experience pitting of their nails which may look like dents, streaks, flaking, or even fragility and pain.

It Can Impact Mental Health

Many people with alopecia feel like everyone is staring at them because of their hair loss. This perceived stigma can have a real impact on mental health. A UK study showed that those with alopecia tend to have higher rates of anxiety and depression than those without.

What's the Meaning?

Just in case you were wondering the origin of the name, the word alopecia means bald, and areata means patch.

There Are Beauty Treatments That Can Help

Although there isn't a cure for alopecia, there are a few solutions to help ease the stigma associated with it. From microblading eyebrows to magnetic lashes and wigs (which have come a long way!), there are ways combat some of the physical impacts of the disease.

Sun Protection Is Essential

Sunscreen and physical UV protection are very important as hair often serves as a barrier from the sun. If you lose your eyelashes, your eyes become that much more sensitive to the sun, so sunglasses are a must. Wigs, UV protective hats, and scarves are all great accessories to have.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Moriah Plath's Journey So Far, OMG Welcome to Plathville Moments, QUIZ: How Well Do You Know Welcome to Plathville?

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What You May Not Know About Alopecia

Shop This Look

Understanding Alopecia

There Are Many Different Types of Alopecia Areata

The Follicles Remain

Great Progress Is Being Made

Hair Loss Is Only One Symptom

Alopecia Can Affect Your Nails

It Can Impact Mental Health

What's the Meaning?

There Are Beauty Treatments That Can Help

Sun Protection Is Essential

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