Review on Alopecia Areata in the Middle East and Africa: Landscape and Unmet Needs

June 2023 in “ Dermatology and therapy ”

Anwar Al Hammadi, Nisha V Parmar, Khadija Aljefri, Osama Al Sharif, Marwa Abdallah, Haytham Mohamed Ahmed, Alfred Ammoury

alopecia areata autoimmune condition non-scarring hair loss genetic susceptibility immunological factors comorbidities quality of life treatment options AA

TLDR The Middle East and Africa need better data, treatment consensus, and support for Alopecia Areata.

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition leading to non-scarring hair loss with variable clinical manifestations and is influenced by genetic susceptibility and immunological factors. The pathogenesis is not completely understood, and treatments have inconsistent results, leading to patient dissatisfaction. AA is associated with comorbidities that impact the quality of life and poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems in the Middle East and Africa. The region suffers from a lack of data registries, consensus on treatment, and guidelines, as well as insufficient public awareness and support for patients. A literature review was conducted to assess the prevalence, diagnosis, impact on quality of life, treatment options, and unmet needs regarding AA in these regions.

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40 / 40 results

research Epidemiological Trends in Alopecia Areata at the Global, Regional, and National Levels

11 citations , July 2022 in “Frontiers in immunology”

Cases of alopecia areata and its impact on life quality rose globally, but when adjusted for age, the rates decreased, especially in poorer regions.

research Two Phase 3 Trials of Baricitinib for Alopecia Areata

148 citations , May 2022 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Baricitinib was effective in treating alopecia areata in two major trials.

research Alopecia Areata and Tofacitinib: A Prospective Multicenter Study from a Saudi Population

9 citations , October 2021 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Tofacitinib is effective and safe for treating severe hair loss in a Saudi population.

research Evaluation of the Level of Serum Interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-15, and IL-17) and Its Relationship with Disease Severity in Patients with Alopecia Areata

14 citations , September 2021 in “Anais brasileiros de dermatologia/Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia”

Interleukin levels are higher in alopecia areata patients but don't predict disease severity or duration.

research Association Between Vitamin D and Zinc Levels With Alopecia Areata Phenotypes at a Tertiary Care Center

3 citations , April 2021 in “Cureus”

Low Vitamin D is common in people with Alopecia Areata, but its impact on the condition needs more research.

research Experience with Oral Tofacitinib in Severe Alopecia Areata with Different Clinical Responses

11 citations , February 2021 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Oral tofacitinib helped regrow hair in over half of the patients with severe alopecia, but relapses and side effects were common.

research Efficacy of Intradermal Minoxidil 5% Injections for Treatment of Patchy Non-Severe Alopecia Areata

4 citations , July 2020 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

Minoxidil injections can speed up hair regrowth in non-severe patchy hair loss, but combining it with steroids doesn't improve results.

research Advances in Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Hair Loss

7 citations , January 2020 in “PubMed”

Stem cell therapies show promise for treating hair loss, but more research is needed to understand their safety and effectiveness.

research Italian Guidelines in Diagnosis and Treatment of Alopecia Areata

37 citations , December 2019 in “Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia”

The Italian guidelines offer advice for diagnosing and treating alopecia areata based on expert opinion and limited clinical trial evidence.

research The Use of a 1,540 nm Fractional Erbium-Glass Laser in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

15 citations , July 2019 in “Lasers in surgery and medicine”

The erbium-glass laser effectively promotes hair regrowth in alopecia areata.

research The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Hair Regrowth in Patients with Alopecia Areata Totalis: A Clinical Pilot Study

14 citations , June 2019 in “Dermatologic therapy”

PRP did not significantly regrow hair in alopecia areata totalis patients.

research Evaluation of Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Intralesional Steroid in Treatment of Alopecia Areata

19 citations , May 2019 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Platelet-rich plasma is a safe and effective treatment for hair loss, with fewer relapses than steroid treatment.

research Alopecia Areata: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study of 104 Patients

29 citations , April 2019 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Older age at onset of alopecia areata leads to less severe and shorter episodes, with most patients experiencing significant hair regrowth.

research Clinical Experiences on Alopecia Areata Treatment with Tofacitinib: A Study of 63 Patients

17 citations , February 2019 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Tofacitinib is effective and safe for long-term treatment of severe alopecia areata, with many patients achieving complete hair regrowth.

research Janus Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata: An Open-Label Comparative Study

66 citations , December 2018 in “Dermatology”

Both ruxolitinib and tofacitinib are effective and safe for treating severe alopecia areata, but relapses are common.

research Cellular Therapy with Human Autologous Adipose-Derived Adult Cells of Stromal Vascular Fraction for Alopecia Areata

45 citations , May 2018 in “Stem Cell Research & Therapy”

Using patients' own fat-derived cells to treat alopecia areata significantly improved hair growth and was safe.

research Efficacy of Topical Latanoprost Versus Minoxidil and Betamethasone Valerate on the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

15 citations , January 2018 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

Latanoprost works better for hair growth, and combining it with betamethasone valerate is most effective.

research Perception of Hair Loss and Education Increases Treatment Willingness in Patients With Androgenetic Alopecia: A Population-Based Study

9 citations , January 2018 in “Annals of Dermatology”

People with more knowledge about their hair loss condition and those who see it as a serious issue are more likely to seek treatment.

research Use of Adapalene in Alopecia Areata: Efficacy and Safety of Mometasone Furoate 0.1% Cream Versus Combination of Mometasone Furoate 0.1% Cream and Adapalene 0.1% Gel in Alopecia Areata

6 citations , November 2017 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Combining mometasone furoate cream with adapalene gel is safer and more effective for hair regrowth in alopecia areata than using the cream alone.

research Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment

35 citations , September 2017 in “PubMed”

The document concludes that hair loss has many causes and treatments vary, including medication for pattern baldness and addressing underlying issues for other types.

research Validation of an Egyptian Arabic Version of Skindex-16 and Quality of Life Measurement in Egyptian Patients with Skin Disease

17 citations , July 2017 in “International Journal of Behavioral Medicine”

The Egyptian Arabic Skindex-16 is a reliable way to measure how skin diseases affect quality of life in Egyptian patients.

research Higher Concentrations of Dithranol Appear to Induce Hair Growth Even in Severe Alopecia Areata

12 citations , June 2017 in “Dermatologic therapy”

Higher concentrations of dithranol can help regrow hair in severe alopecia areata.

research Best Dilution of the Best Corticosteroid for Intralesional Injection in the Treatment of Localized Alopecia Areata in Adults

22 citations , May 2017 in “Journal of dermatological treatment”

BD 1/4 dilution is the best for treating localized alopecia areata in adults.

research Experience with Oral Tofacitinib in 8 Adolescent Patients with Alopecia Universalis

49 citations , April 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Tofacitinib caused significant hair regrowth in adolescents with alopecia universalis who didn't respond to other treatments.

research Bilateral Half-Head Comparison of 1% Anthralin Ointment in Children with Alopecia Areata

24 citations , January 2017 in “Pediatric dermatology”

1% anthralin ointment is effective and safe for treating severe alopecia areata in children.

research The Diagnosis and Treatment of Hair and Scalp Diseases

37 citations , May 2016 in “Deutsches Arzteblatt International”

Hair loss requires customized treatments based on its various causes and types.

research Epidemiology and Burden of Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

144 citations , July 2015 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease affecting about 2% of people, causing significant disability and often associated with mental health issues and other autoimmune conditions.

research Efficacy and Safety of Diphenylcyclopropenone Alone or in Combination with Anthralin in the Treatment of Chronic Extensive Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Case Series

44 citations , April 2015 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Combining diphenylcyclopropenone with anthralin is more effective for hair regrowth in alopecia areata than using diphenylcyclopropenone alone, but may cause more side effects.

research Bimatoprost Versus Mometasone Furoate in the Treatment of Scalp Alopecia Areata: A Pilot Study

36 citations , January 2015 in “Dermatology”

Bimatoprost was found to be safer and more effective than mometasone furoate for treating scalp hair loss.

research Global Burden of Skin Disease as Reflected in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

70 citations , September 2014 in “JAMA Dermatology”

The representation of skin conditions in medical reviews partly matches their real-world impact.

research Alopecia Areata: Successful Outcome with Microneedling and Triamcinolone Acetonide

53 citations , January 2014 in “Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery”

Microneedling combined with triamcinolone can safely stimulate faster hair regrowth in people with Alopecia Areata.

research The Effect of Oral Cyclosporine in the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata

33 citations , October 2013 in “Cutaneous and ocular toxicology”

Oral cyclosporine can help regrow hair in severe alopecia areata cases.

research Hair Loss in Children: Common and Uncommon Causes; Clinical and Epidemiological Study in Jordan

30 citations , January 2013 in “International Journal of Trichology”

The most common causes of hair loss in Jordanian children are fungal infections, autoimmune hair loss, and hair shedding after fever, with zinc deficiency also being a notable cause.

research Pulse Corticosteroid Therapy for Alopecia Areata in Children: A Retrospective Study

38 citations , January 2013 in “Dermatology”

Careful patient selection is key for effective pulse corticosteroid treatment in children with alopecia areata.

research British Association of Dermatologists’ Guidelines for the Management of Alopecia Areata 2012

218 citations , May 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Guidelines suggest various treatments for alopecia areata, but leaving it untreated is also an option as 80% cases may recover on their own.

research Comparison of Treatment with Clobetasol Propionate 0.05% and Topical Pimecrolimus 1% in Alopecia Areata

13 citations , July 2011 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

Clobetasol and pimecrolimus are similarly effective for alopecia areata, but pimecrolimus has fewer side effects and is preferred for long-term use.

research Successful Treatment of Resistant Alopecia Areata with a Phototoxic Dose of Ultraviolet A After Topical 8-Methoxypsoralen Application

12 citations , January 2011 in “Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine”

This therapy effectively treats resistant alopecia areata with minimal side effects.

research Utility of Dermoscopy in Alopecia Areata

76 citations , January 2011 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology/Indian journal of dermatology”

Dermoscopy is a useful tool for diagnosing and managing alopecia areata.

research Diphencyprone and Topical Tacrolimus as Two Topical Immunotherapeutic Modalities: Are They Effective in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata Among Egyptian Patients? A Study Using CD4, CD8, and MHC II as Markers

13 citations , June 2010 in “Journal of dermatological treatment”

Diphencyprone is effective for treating patchy hair loss in alopecia areata, but tacrolimus is not.

research Alopecia Areata: Overview and Treatment Options

151 citations , February 2007 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

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

3 / 3 results

research Alopecia Areata: A Multifactorial Autoimmune Condition

148 citations , March 2019 in “Journal of autoimmunity”

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.

research Linear Alopecia Areata

4 citations , November 2018 in “JAAD case reports”

Alopecia areata can sometimes appear as a straight line of hair loss instead of round patches.

research Treating Resistant Cases of Alopecia Universalis

May 2018 in “Journal of cosmetology & trichology”

Combining platelet-rich plasma therapy with prostaglandin-F eye drops can significantly regrow hair in alopecia universalis.