Introductory Chapter: Alopecia Management – An Update

Alopecia, a prevalent skin disorder, is divided into non-cicatricial alopecia, which can be reversed, and cicatricial alopecia, which is permanent. The most common types are androgenic alopecia (AGA) and areata alopecia (AA) in the non-cicatricial category, and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) in the cicatricial category. AGA affects 80% of Caucasian men and 50% of women over 70, while AA, an autoimmune disease, has a 2% lifetime incidence globally. FFA mainly affects postmenopausal women. Alopecia can significantly impact mental health, vitality, and sexual function. Approved treatments are limited but include topical minoxidil, oral finasteride, and low-level light therapy for AGA; corticosteroids, methotrexate, azathioprine, and JAK inhibitors for AA; and topical corticosteroids, oral minoxidil, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, hydroxychloroquine, and isotretinoin for FFA. Interest in alopecia and its treatments is growing.