Treatment Patterns and Unmet Needs in the Management of Alopecia Areata: Results of a Physician’s Survey in the Middle East
June 2023
in “
Dermatology and therapy
”
TLDR Doctors in the Middle East need better treatments and more knowledge about new therapies for hair loss condition Alopecia Areata.
The study surveyed 200 dermatologists across Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to assess treatment patterns and unmet needs in managing Alopecia Areata (AA). It found that potent topical corticosteroids were the most common treatment for AA, regardless of severity. However, there was a notable lack of awareness of investigative treatments, with only 33% of dermatologists aware of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. The study identified key unmet needs, including long-term disease control, improved efficacy, faster onset of action, and better safety profiles. Psychological factors were considered the greatest risk factor for AA, and comorbidities such as thyroid disease and atopic dermatitis were common. The study concluded that there is a need for improved treatments and increased education on novel therapies to optimize patient care for AA in the Middle East.