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Skin Care and Diseases

Hair loss on legs

05/28/2004

Question:

About a year ago I started losing hair on my legs. I`m only about twenty years old, and I have various bald patches on both my legs where the surface of the skin is perfectly smooth. Any idea what might have caused this or how to get the hair back. My wife would also like to know since she wants her legs this smooth. Thanks.

Answer:

 

Circular hair loss anywhere on the body might suggest alopecia areata.  More commonly it occurs in scalp hair and may involve eye lashes, beard and body hair.  Some men wear support hose on an extended basis and in that setting there may be some removal of hair by the elastic garment.  In your case it sounds as though you may be developing early alopecia areata.  The only way to establish that diagnosis clearly would be to see your board certified dermatologist.

 

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Response by:

University of Cincinnati Charles L. Heaton, MD
Professor
Department of Dermatology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati