Q: My beard has disappeared from some places. There were four patches when it started four months ago but now they are five and are getting bigger. My thumb nails are also showing brown lines in the middle. This appeared two years back. I sometimes feel that there are faint lines on other nails also. I feel lethargic and drowsy during the day. What is my problem and what is the cure? There is no itching or change in the colour of the skin in the patches but the size of the hairless patches is increasing.

A:Most probably you have alopecia areata. However it is asymptomatic. Exclamation mark hair if seen in the patch is pathagnomonic of this disorder. Bald patches with broken stumps of hair can be seen in ectothrix fungal infection. Lethargy maybe due to some other disorder. Therefore, it is better that you consult your dermatologist for proper diagnosis.