TLDR Alopecia areata is unpredictable, with limited treatment effectiveness, especially in severe cases.
The study on alopecia areata (AA) evaluated 226 patients over a 5-year period to identify prognostic factors and treatment responses. Significant bad prognostic factors included extensive AA, juvenile onset, nail changes, ophiasic type, and long disease duration. Atopy and sex were not significant factors. Treatment responses varied, with 52.8% of treated patients showing satisfactory hair regrowth, but only 22.2% in severe cases. The study highlighted the unpredictable nature of AA, frequent relapses, and the limited effectiveness of treatments, emphasizing the need for clear treatment objectives and supportive care for patients and families.
164 citations
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November 1989 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Juvenile alopecia areata is more severe and has a worse prognosis than maturity-onset alopecia areata.
36 citations
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March 1989 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” DPCP is more effective than tretinoin gel for treating severe alopecia.
42 citations
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August 1987 in “Archives of Dermatology” Squaric acid dibutylester led to complete hair regrowth in 28.5% of patients with alopecia areata.
63 citations
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April 1985 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Topical PUVA can cause temporary hair regrowth in some alopecia areata patients but doesn't change the long-term outcome.
122 citations
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November 1984 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” No single treatment is consistently effective for alopecia areata, and more research is needed.
78 citations
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July 1984 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” 54 citations
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August 1981 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Alopecia areata is linked to reduced T cell function and auto-immunity.
31 citations
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August 1963 in “Archives of Dermatology” No systemic causes were found for the patients' conditions.
April 2019 in “International journal of research in dermatology” A child with rough nails also had hair loss and allergies.
