Definition of Alopecia

Baldness. There are many types of alopecia, each with a different cause. Alopecia may be localized to the front and top of the head as in common male pattern baldness. It may be patchy as in a condition called alopecia areata. A variant of alopecia involves the entire head and is called alopecia capitis totalis. The word "alopecia" comes from the Greek "alopex" for "fox."