Alopecia Areata: An Overview of Treatments and Developments

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease causing non-scarring hair loss, affecting about 2% of the global population and often leading to psychological distress. In 2022, baricitinib, a JAK-inhibitor, was approved as the first drug for severe AA, showing promise with 30-35% of patients achieving a SALT-score <20, though it is not curative and has serious side effects. Treatment options range from topical steroids to systemic therapies, with a focus on developing targeted treatments to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. The document also discusses the use of diphenylcyclopropenon (DPCP) for topical immunotherapy and the combination of methotrexate and prednisolone, which has shown effectiveness in a small study population.