Bald Spot Started As Small Spot Months Ago, Now It is Growing

I have a spot on the left side of my head. It appeared in the summer as small as a pea and know is about 2 inches. The hair that falls out looks like an exclamation point it is thick and then really thin near the scalp it also is discolored. My hair is dark black so the ends near the scalp are light brown. The bald spot is very smooth no hair or subble. What might this be and what kind of doctor should I visit my doctor has no clue.

I think that this is a test of my knowledge. ‘Exclamation point hair’ is a telltale sign found in certain diseases like alopecia areata (see Exclamation point hair). If the spot is expanding, then that may be your diagnosis. You need to see a dermatologist for your condition. Different diseases can cause this type of patchy hair loss, but the most common in western countries is ringworm (a fungal infection problem).

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which hair is destroyed by the body’s defense mechanism. For those that have it, there is a genetic component which can be identified in the DNA. Hair loss could be seen anywhere in the body and is more obvious on the head and face, because of the density of hair in those areas. Recovery is spontaneous, but may take several months to years and it may not reverse. Some medications may facilitate recovery from this condition, but the best treatments are in the hands of a few doctors who have a particular interest in this disease.