Alopecia Areata: Comprehensive Overview and Management

The document from 2017 provides a comprehensive overview of alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition causing hair loss, with a prevalence of about 1 in 1000 people. It details the disease's complex pathophysiology, unpredictable course, and association with genetic factors and other autoimmune diseases. While there are no preventive or curative treatments, management options include topical and intralesional steroids, immunotherapy, and newer treatments like excimer laser and Janus kinase inhibitors. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, supported by tools like the SALT score and dermoscopy, and a scalp biopsy can help differentiate it from other conditions. The document also discusses the variable success rates and side effects of treatments such as systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, and novel therapies like low-dose interleukin 2 and Janus kinase inhibitors, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment approaches due to the variable efficacy and potential side effects of these treatments.