Alopecia areata is a disease where hairless patches develop on the scalp or any hairy part of the skin. It is a chronic, recurring and autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune disease means a condition where the body attacks its own immune system. One or more bald spots occur commonly on the scalp, but this condition can also affect other hairy areas of the body, such as eyebrows, eyelashes, face (beard area), private parts, and other body areas.