Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Journey from Classical Therapeutic Options to New Drugs in Recent Years

    January 2018 in “ Dermatology Online Journal ”
    Alba Gómez‐Zubiaur, David Saceda‐Corralo, MD Velez-Velazquez, Sergio Vañó‐Galván
    TLDR Alopecia areata is hard to treat, but new targeted therapies show promise.
    The review discussed the treatment of alopecia areata, emphasizing the challenges due to its autoimmune nature and the lack of effective, standardized treatments. It highlighted both traditional and newer therapeutic options, such as topical and intralesional corticosteroids, minoxidil, contact immunotherapy, and emerging treatments like JAK inhibitors, which showed promise in some studies. The review noted that while some treatments were effective for certain patients, alopecia areata remained a challenging condition to treat, with no universally effective therapy. It stressed the importance of individualized treatment plans and the need for more research, especially for newer treatments. The document also addressed the psychological impact of the disease and the potential role of antidepressants, though systematic use was not recommended without a diagnosed psychiatric condition. Overall, the review indicated a shift towards targeted therapies in managing alopecia areata.
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