Can a Skin Irritation Trigger Alopecia Areata?

Hi Doctor thank you for your help. Can skin irritations trigger Alopecia Areata? I have read many different articles about the triggers of AA but it is still confusing. I see certain chemicals and allergies might trigger another spot. It is hard for me to understand if skin irritations or skin allergies are really enough to do this. Also are there irregular shaped spots or are the spots always round. Thank you for your time.

Alopecia areata can often be spontaneous, but some have tried to connect allergic reactions to it. I really don’t know though, to be honest. The spots can appear singular or at multiple locations, regular or irregular and they can change in size and grow larger.

For more info on alopecia areata, I recommend visiting the National Alopecia Areata Foundation site.