Alopecia Areata: Current Situation and Perspectives

The 2017 document reviews Alopecia Areata (AA), a complex autoimmune hair loss condition affecting 1-2% of the population without gender preference. It outlines the classifications of AA, the hair follicle growth cycle, and potential environmental triggers such as stress and infections. The condition is associated with autoimmune diseases and involves T lymphocyte infiltration into hair follicles. AA is polygenic with several susceptibility genes identified. Diagnosis typically involves clinical and sometimes histological examination, while treatment options like immunotherapy and corticosteroids vary in effectiveness, with no universally accepted treatment and unpredictable prognosis. Severe cases, particularly in children before puberty, have a grim outlook with less than a 10% chance of full recovery. The psychological impact of AA is significant, requiring medical and psychological support. The document calls for new treatments targeting genes related to autoimmune processes and hair follicle function due to the current treatments' limitations in preventing relapse and side effects.