Alopecia in Spanish

What it means

Alopecia is the lack or loss of hair from areas of the body where hair is usually found, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) dictionary, which adds that it can be a side effect of some cancer treatments. MedlinePlus puts it this way: partial or complete loss of hair is called alopecia. Hair loss usually develops gradually and may be patchy or all over (diffuse). MedlinePlus groups the causes under heredity, physical or emotional stress, and other causes that include alopecia areata, thyroid diseases, and radiation therapy. A careful medical history and examination of the hair and scalp are usually enough to diagnose the cause; tests that may be performed, but are rarely needed, include blood tests and a skin biopsy of the scalp.

Alopecia in Spanish

Spanish term: Alopecia
Gender and article: feminine: la alopecia
Pronunciation: ah-loh-PEH-syah

Other Spanish terms	Where it is used	Note
pérdida de cabello	General	Title of the MedlinePlus en español article, which says that partial or total loss of hair "se denomina alopecia".
calvicie	General	Listed by the Spanish dictionary among the synonyms of alopecia; MedlinePlus en español also lists it among its alternative names.

Alopecia is spelled the same in Spanish and English. The Real Academia Española dictionary enters it as a feminine noun, la alopecia, defined as the pathological falling out or loss of hair, and lists calvicie (baldness) among its synonyms. The National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary defines it as falta o pérdida del cabello in the parts of the body where hair is usually found, and writes la alopecia with the feminine article.

MedlinePlus en español titles its article Pérdida de cabello and says that partial or total loss of hair se denomina alopecia; in the same article it also writes caída del cabello. It lists alopecia cicatricial (scarring alopecia) and alopecia no cicatricial (non-scarring alopecia) among its alternative names, and names alopecia areata among the causes. Related words from the same page: cuero cabelludo (scalp), folículos del cabello (hair follicles), calvicie de patrón masculino (male pattern baldness) and efluvio telógeno (telogen effluvium).

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Patient	I have been losing a lot of hair for the last three months.	Llevo tres meses perdiendo mucho cabello.
Clinician	Is the hair falling out in patches or all over your scalp?	¿Se le cae el cabello por parches o en todo el cuero cabelludo?
Patient	It comes out in handfuls when I shampoo or comb it.	Se me cae en mechones cuando me aplico el champú o me peino.
Clinician	Does anyone else in your family have hair loss?	¿Alguien más en su familia tiene pérdida de cabello?
Clinician	Have you had a high fever, surgery, or a lot of stress recently?	¿Ha tenido fiebre alta, alguna cirugía o mucho estrés recientemente?
Patient	I have a round bald patch on my scalp. Could it be alopecia areata?	Tengo un parche redondo de calvicie en el cuero cabelludo. ¿Podría ser alopecia areata?
Clinician	I am going to examine your hair and scalp, and I may order blood tests.	Voy a examinarle el cabello y el cuero cabelludo, y es posible que le pida exámenes de sangre.
Patient	My chart says alopecia. Does that just mean hair loss?	Mi expediente dice alopecia. ¿Eso solo quiere decir pérdida de cabello?

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Alopecia
Spanish (Español)	Alopecia
Chinese (中文)	禿髮症
Korean (한국어)	탈모증
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Rụng tóc
Filipino (Tagalog)	Alopecia
Portuguese (Português)	Alopecia
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	ผมร่วง
Japanese (日本語)	脱毛症

Where you'll see it

chartreferralmedical record

Related ICD-10-CM category

ICD-10-CM code: L63 → Alopecia areata

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Skin, hair and nails

All terms in this area: Skin, hair and nails — Piel, cabello y uñas

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.