Hair & scalp · 8-week guide
Patchy Hair Loss (Alopecia Areata): Doctor Route
Smooth, round bald patches that appear quickly are often alopecia areata, an immune condition. This plan helps you get a diagnosis, understand what a doctor can offer, track patches and look after your mood.
- Length
- 8-week guide
- For
- Women, Men
- Evidence A
- Strong evidence: guidelines or reviews of trials
- What to expect
- Small patches often regrow within months, sometimes without treatment; doctor treatments take 3 months or more to judge. Patches can come and go.
The goal: A diagnosis and doctor-led plan, clear patch photos, and support. Many small patches regrow, but the course is unpredictable.
Doctor treatments follow the BAD 2024 living guideline (Grade A). This program is education, tracking and support only; it contains no self-treatment.
Start this program
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The plan
Weeks 1–2
Get a diagnosis
See a doctor; baseline patch photos.
Treatment choices depend on how much hair is affected; ringworm and scarring must be ruled out.
Morning
Patch photos
Photograph each patch with a coin beside it for scale; same light; repeat every 2 weeks.
Why: Shows spread or regrowth clearly to you and your doctor.
Evening
Gentle handling
Loose styles; no tight braids, glue or heat over patches.
Why: Avoids extra breakage around patches.
BAD patient information leaflet: Caring for Afro-textured hair (July 2023)
Habits
Get a diagnosisDoctor or pharmacist
Smooth round bald patches, sometimes with short "exclamation-mark" hairs, in the scalp, eyebrows or beard. A doctor can confirm it and rule out ringworm or scarring.
Why: BAD: treatment depends on the extent of hair loss.
Weeks 3–8
Support & track
Follow the doctor plan; protect your mood; concealment if you want it.
BAD recommends assessing distress and offering support alongside treatment.
Morning
Patch photos
Every 2 weeks, as before.
Why: Tracks the course.
Evening
Gentle handling
As before.
Why: Less breakage.
BAD patient information leaflet: Caring for Afro-textured hair (July 2023)
Habits
Treatments your doctor may offerDoctor or pharmacist
Strong steroid applications to the patches, steroid injections into small patches, contact immunotherapy for wider loss, and for severe cases newer tablets called JAK inhibitors where available (often costly and hard to get in Nigeria). Minoxidil is sometimes added (not in pregnancy or breastfeeding). Your doctor will advise the dose and duration. On dark skin, ask about the risk of lighter or darker patches from steroids and immunotherapy.
Why: BAD 2024 living guideline (strong recommendations), with a specific caution for skin of colour.
Look after your mood
Hair loss can be distressing. Tell your doctor if you feel low or anxious — talking therapies help. Talk to someone you trust.
Why: BAD recommends assessing psychological distress.
Concealment
Wigs on a satin cap without glue, toppers, scarves, brow pencils.
Why: BAD supports wigs where they improve quality of life.
Milestones
Your weekly check-in
Ask yourself these once a week. If an answer worries you, stop and see a doctor or pharmacist.
Stop and see a doctor if
- Rapid spreading, or loss of eyebrows or lashes: see a doctor promptly
- Low mood or thoughts of self-harm: get help today
- Scaly patches, especially in a child (possible scalp ringworm): see a doctor
- Do not use steroid creams on your own — a doctor must guide treatment on dark skin
- Patches in a child: see a doctor (use the child scalp ringworm plan if ringworm is diagnosed)
In an emergency, call 112112999911911.
Sources
- Harries et al. British Association of Dermatologists living guideline for managing people with alopecia areata 2024 (Br J Dermatol, 2025)
- BAD patient information leaflet: Caring for Afro-textured hair (July 2023)
- NHS: Hair loss
Education, not diagnosis. This plan cannot examine you; pending physician review where marked.
Related programs
Healthy Hair Growth (Breakage)
Retain length: wash-day, moisture, gentle handling and scalp care.
Edges & Hairline Restoration
16 weeks of zero-tension care for a thinning hairline, with a doctor route.
Men's Grooming & Razor Bump Control
8 weeks to fewer razor bumps and dark marks.
Men's Hairline
Understand receding and thinning, track it properly, and take the doctor route if needed.
