Alopecia Areata in the Elderly: A 10-Year Retrospective Study

January 2015 in “ Annals of dermatology/Annals of Dermatology ”

Yong Hyun Jang, Kyung Hea Park, Sang Lim Kim, Hyun Jung Lim, Weon Ju Lee, Seok Jong Lee, Do Won Kim

alopecia areata scalp-localized hair loss hair graying therapeutic response pathogenesis

TLDR Alopecia areata in elderly people is usually mild and responds well to treatment.

The 10-year retrospective study on alopecia areata (AA) in the elderly analyzed 200 elderly patients and found that AA in this age group presented with mild disease severity, with 74.3% experiencing less than 50% scalp hair loss. The study noted a higher prevalence of comorbid conditions such as thyroid disease and diabetes in elderly patients. A favorable therapeutic response was observed in 62.9% of cases. The research suggested that melanocytes might be a possible autoimmune target and emphasized the importance of considering a patient's history of atopy or autoimmunity. The study concluded that age-specific factors and comorbidities should be considered in the management and treatment of AA in elderly patients, and further research was needed to understand the influence of aging on AA pathogenesis.

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Research cited in this study

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research Late-Onset Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Study of 73 Patients from Taiwan

21 citations, February 2012 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Late-onset alopecia areata in Taiwanese patients is more common in women, usually starts at age 57, often involves less than 10% hair loss, and may have a minimal link to thyroid issues.

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Melanocytes might be targeted by the immune system in people with alopecia areata, but more research is needed.

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Alopecia areata causes hair loss, has no cure, and various treatments exist.

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295 citations, January 2006 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Alopecia areata, a common autoimmune hair loss condition, often runs in families.

research Autoimmunity: Alopecia Areata

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Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing hair loss, treatable with immune-modulating drugs, and linked to genetics.

research The Pattern and Profile of Alopecia Areata in Singapore: A Study of 219 Asians

275 citations, November 2002 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Alopecia areata mainly affects young people and has significant psychological impacts, especially in males.

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