Do all alopecia types start with round bald patches ?

I love how you reply to all of my discussions about hair haha.  Thank you for the response! 

I hope I'm able to help you.

That's not correct. When you have hair loss in patches it's known as alopecia areata. If you have total hair loss on your head then that's alopecia totalitarian, and if you lose the hair all over your body and your head then that's called alopecia Universalist.

The correct terms are alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis. 

Chantal, there are many reasons that you could be having hair loss besides alopecia areata. Could be hypothyroidism, low iron, etc. Try not to stress about it. The derm will be able to determine what is going on. If nothing is found, have your ferritin levels checked to see if your iron stores are where they should be. Optimal levels are around 100 for women.

Typically alopecia areata does start in round patches but there are exceptions to the rule. It doesn't sound like this is what you have though.

suzanne54870 Alopecia Areata does start with patches, not necessarily round but bald spots for sure. That is the classic symptom of this autoimmune disease. It does not fall out all over you head as in thinning hair. But the patches can overlap.

I’ve had some form of alopecia my entire 52 years. And the hair loss can happen in different ways.  I’ve had patchy loss, all over thinning, and total loss. All alopecia areata/totalis/universalis. 

Was a support group leader for many years, volunteer at the annual conference, and then did hair replacement for women. 

If you are going to give advice, make sure you know what you are talking about. 

everything I've ever read out this disease has stated that it falls out in patches and frankly that's exactly how mine did. I lost most my hair but it started as patches. So next time don't be so rude. I am entitled to express my knowledge on this site.

Didn’t mean to be rude, sorry. It just worries me when someone doesn’t know the proper terminology.

So alopecia areata usually falls out in patches, that is true, but I know women who have woken up and found all their hair on the pillow.  So it can definitely manifest in different ways. 

Having a bad day, so I shouldn’t even be responding today. 

Im also loosing really short hairs and they come out with the root. They haven't even grown out long but are falling out with the root? 

Having all of your hair fall out at once is not the same thing as thinning. It's just a total loss of hair. And the purpose of this site is for people to give suggestions (and I'm not using the word advice on purpose) based on their personal experience and knowledge. So no one on this site should expect to get the advice from a doctor or someone in the medical field. So I am quite qualified to be a person with experience in alopecia areata. Therefore I don't feel that I acted recklessly. And I can understand that you had a bad day and your words may have come out a little strong. I appreciate your apology. I hope you have a very good day.

Chantal, with alopecia your hair will look broken off, it wouldn’t have the roots attached. Hope this helps.