There is currently no cure for Alopecia Aereata. Doctors may prescibe you medications or inject your scalp with medications. This usually does not work.
Stress can trigger it off. Lupus can trigger it off. Glad you made a doc appt. at least they can run tests to see what may be causing it.
Or just do a search on essential oils for alopecia areata.
Also 1-2 tbsp. of flaxseed oil per day may help some folks.
The good thing you can know, it is not permanent hair loss in most cases it all grows back in.Just try not to let it stress you to loose more hair. After all stress is one of the major triggers.