Abstract: Fifty cases of alopecia areata were studied. The histopatholcgical pictures could be divided into three stages: (1) early lesions: duration of illness within 1 month, (2) fully developed lesions: 2~3 months, (3) late lesions; over 1 year. The whorls of sclerosis were related to poor prognosis. Involved area might loss hairs permanently. 92% of patients had lymphocytic infltration around blood vessels in the vicinity of hair bulbs.