Acute Diffuse And Total Alopecia: A New Subtype Of Alopecia Areata With A Favorable Prognosis

January 2009 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”

Bark-Lynn Lew, Min Kyung Shin, Woo-Young Sim

TLDR A new type of rapid hair loss called ADTA usually gets better on its own within 6 months.

In 2009, researchers identified a new subtype of alopecia areata called acute diffuse and total alopecia (ADTA), characterized by rapid hair loss leading to total baldness with a favorable prognosis for spontaneous regrowth. The study included 30 Korean patients, mostly women over 20, who experienced hair regrowth within 6 months, regardless of treatment. Histopathology revealed mononuclear cell infiltration and pigment incontinence around hair follicles. The follow-up period averaged 24 months, and the findings suggested that ADTA is distinct from other hair loss conditions, with a rapid recovery that may not require aggressive treatment.

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