Alopecia Areata Update

June 2015 in “ Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery ”

Maria Hordinsky, Ana Lúcia Ariano Junqueira

alopecia areata autoimmune disease nonscarring hair loss scalp hair loss body hair loss clinical presentation epidemiology pathophysiology treatments for AA AA

TLDR There is no cure for alopecia areata, and treatment success depends on the individual's situation.

As of 2015, there was no cure for alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disease causing nonscarring hair loss in both children and adults. Treatment success varied depending on factors such as disease duration, activity, patient age, and extent of hair loss. While patchy and limited cases were relatively easy to manage, extensive scalp and body hair loss presented a significant challenge. Physicians typically selected a cost-effective treatment approach based on these factors. The document reviewed the clinical presentation, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and current and evolving treatments for AA.

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