British Association of Dermatologists’ Guidelines for the Management of Alopecia Areata 2012

The British Association of Dermatologists released guidelines for the management of alopecia areata in 2012. The guidelines cover various treatments, including topical and systemic corticosteroids, contact immunotherapy, photochemotherapy, minoxidil, dithranol, calcineurin inhibitors, and prostaglandin F₂α analogues. The guidelines recommend leaving alopecia areata untreated as a legitimate option for many patients, as spontaneous remission occurs in up to 80% of cases. Synthetic acrylic wigs are recommended as the most affordable option, while monofilament acrylic wigs are constructed to give the appearance of hair growing from the scalp. False eyelashes and eyebrows can be synthetic or human hair, and top lashes can easily be purchased. Overall, the document aims to provide dermatologists with evidence-based recommendations for the management of alopecia areata.