Alopecia in General Medicine

February 2016 in “ Clinical Medicine ”

Rajani Nalluri, Matthew Harries

alopecia telogen effluvium chemotherapy-induced alopecia male pattern hair loss female pattern hair loss alopecia areata scarring alopecias minoxidil finasteride Janus kinase inhibitors frontal fibrosing alopecia infections systemic diseases pathobiology of hair loss Rogaine Propecia JAK inhibitors

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Studysummary This article discusses various types of alopecia relevant to hospital medicine and reports no new clinical findings, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnosis and understanding of associated psychological impacts.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The 2016 document highlights the complexity of diagnosing and managing various forms of alopecia in general medicine. It underscores the necessity of recognizing the psychological impact of hair loss, the potential for underlying medical conditions to cause alopecia, and the importance of accurate diagnosis through patient history, blood tests, and scalp biopsies. The document reviews conditions such as telogen effluvium, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, male and female pattern hair loss, alopecia areata, and scarring alopecias, noting treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and emerging therapies like Janus kinase inhibitors. It also mentions an increase in frontal fibrosing alopecia, especially in post-menopausal women, and calls for more research into its causes. Additionally, the document discusses other causes of hair loss, including infections and systemic diseases, and emphasizes the need for novel treatments based on a deeper understanding of the pathobiology of hair loss disorders.

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Research cited in this study

19 / 19 results

research Familial Aggregation of Alopecia Areata

295 citations , May 2016 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This review examines the immunological aspects of alopecia areata, focusing on genetic, neuroimmunological, and immune privilege factors, but does not report new clinical findings.

research Alopecia Areata Is Driven by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Is Reversed by JAK Inhibition

701 citations , August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

This study found that JAK inhibitors promote hair regrowth in both mice and human alopecia areata cases by blocking key immune pathways involved in disease development.

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110 citations , August 2014 in “International journal of cancer”

This study found that scalp cooling significantly reduced the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer patients, while topical minoxidil and other interventions did not show significant efficacy.

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185 citations , June 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This case report describes complete hair regrowth in a patient with alopecia universalis and improved psoriasis after treatment with the oral Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib.

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6 citations , December 2013 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of alopecia areata, focusing on immunity and genetics, and presents potential targets for therapy without reporting new clinical results.

Analysis of Quantitative Changes in Hair Growth During Treatment With Chemotherapy or Tamoxifen in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Cohort Study

research Analysis of Quantitative Changes in Hair Growth During Treatment With Chemotherapy or Tamoxifen in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Cohort Study

24 citations , November 2013 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that chemotherapy in female breast cancer patients caused significant early hair loss, which began to recover three months after completion, whereas tamoxifen did not affect hair growth.

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220 citations , June 2013 in “The Journal of Pathology”

This study found that immune privilege collapse in the hair follicle bulge and associated immune responses may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of lichen planopilaris, suggesting a potential autoimmune basis for the disease.

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8 citations , April 2013 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This correspondence comments on the unknown prevalence of permanent alopecia following high-dose docetaxel chemotherapy and highlights the need for further understanding and prevention strategies.

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6 citations , October 2012 in “BMJ”

This case report describes a 37-year-old woman whose recurrent hair shedding was associated with low iron stores and a miscarriage, with improvements seen after increased iron intake.

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3 citations , July 2012 in “British journal of hospital medicine”

This article reviews common hair loss disorders, emphasizing their potential links to systemic disease and the importance of thorough diagnostic evaluation, but reports no new clinical results.

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This updated guideline from the British Association of Dermatologists discusses current recommendations for managing alopecia areata but reports no new clinical research findings.

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40 citations , December 2011 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This article reviews how chronological aging affects female scalp hair growth and suggests that multiple factors, including environmental influences, contribute to female pattern hair loss; no new clinical results are presented.

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57 citations , March 2011 in “The American Journal of Dermatopathology”

This study found that permanent alopecia can occur after certain chemotherapy treatments and presents as nonscarring hair loss similar to androgenetic alopecia, with specific histological features that could be misdiagnosed without proper clinicopathological correlation.

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151 citations , August 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This guideline reviews the diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia and offers expert consensus recommendations tailored to males, females, and adolescents, but reports no new clinical results.

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717 citations , June 2010 in “Nature”

This study identified key genetic regions associated with alopecia areata, highlighting both acquired and innate immune involvement, with a novel link to the upregulation of ULBP ligands in autoimmune disease.

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98 citations , May 2008 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This review discusses evidence-based guidance for managing primary cicatricial alopecias but reports no new clinical results, highlighting significant gaps in knowledge and the need for more quality trials.

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29 citations , April 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that women with female pattern hair loss awaiting treatment tend to underestimate their hair loss severity compared to their clinicians' evaluations.

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1113 citations , August 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

This article discusses the biologic and psychosocial significance of hair, the current limitations in hair growth drugs, and anticipates future therapies based on advancing hair follicle research.

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127 citations , July 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that in women undergoing chemotherapy after breast surgery, topical minoxidil significantly shortened the duration of hair loss compared to a placebo without significant side effects.