The patient presents to primary care with two round patches of hair loss on his scalp. He reports no trauma or symptoms aside from the hair loss. The nurse gathers information about his environment, including his workplace. The patient states he recently moved to the area for a new job and that his wife, who is pregnant with their first child, works at the same company. Which diagnosis does the nurse anticipate this patient will receive?

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Alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is autoimmune-mediated hair loss, triggered by stress, genetic susceptibility, and metabolic disorders such as Addison disease and lupus erythematosus. Patients present with rapid onset of hair loss in multiple round patches on the scalp. Hirsutism occurs in women and is male pattern hair distribution and growth on the body, face, and pubic areas. Paronychia is an infection of the cuticle of the nail on fingers or toes. Androgenic alopecia is generally referred to as male-pattern baldness. The hair loss occurs in androgen-sensitive follicles on the top of the scalp.

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