Abstract
Ophiasis is a form of alopecia areata characterized by the loss of hair in the shape of a wave at the circumference of the head.
It gets its name from "ophis", which is the Greek word for snake, because of the apparent similarity to a snake-shape and the pattern of hair loss.
The term "sisaipho" is used to characterize the inverse pattern. Sisaipho is the reverse spelling of ophiasis. It is also called "ophiasis inversus".