Congenital Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

    June 2023 in “ British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement ”
    Aileen Feschuk, Maxwell Green, Manuel Valdebran
    Image of study
    TLDR Congenital alopecia areata may have genetic links and topical corticosteroids are an effective treatment.
    This systematic review analyzed data from reported cases of congenital alopecia areata (CAA), a condition where hair loss is present at birth, which challenges the typical understanding of alopecia areata (AA) as an acquired autoimmune condition. Twelve patients were identified, with a female predominance (58%) and a positive family history of AA in 42% of cases. The alopecic pattern at birth was AA in 67% of cases, AT in 17%, and AU in 17%. Diagnosis was clinical in 67% and biopsy-proven in 33%. Treatments varied, with topical corticosteroids (TCS) alone showing total regrowth in 67% of treated cases. The review highlights the potential role of genetic factors in CAA, given the family history and female predominance, and suggests TCS as a reasonable first-line treatment, with 83% of patients treated with TCS experiencing partial or total hair regrowth. The study faced limitations such as small sample size and potential under-reporting due to lack of established terminology. The review concludes that CAA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of newborn alopecia and that increased awareness could lead to more patients receiving appropriate treatment.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 12 results

      community Why I deleted my YouTube channel Part I

      in Update  118 upvotes 3 years ago
      A YouTuber named Kevin, also known as Rider_Of_Roach, who deleted his YouTube channel due to personal attacks and controversy surrounding his views on hair loss treatments. He advocated for FDA-approved treatments like finasteride and minoxidil but faced backlash from those who disagreed with him. The conversation also discusses his past trolling behavior and a lawsuit he filed against a website that published false information about him. Despite some disagreements, many viewers appreciated his research-based content and hope to see him return in the future.
      Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      in Research  692 upvotes 4 months ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community I was on 2.5 mg oral minoxidil

      in Progress Pictures  468 upvotes 5 months ago
      User took 2.5 mg oral minoxidil, saw hair growth but stopped due to excessive body hair. Recently started finasteride and plans to update progress.

      community DHT and 5AR respect post, it's importance within the brain

      in Research/Science  111 upvotes 9 months ago
      The conversation discusses whether to use finasteride for hair loss, considering its role in inhibiting DHT and 5AR, which can affect brain function and mood. Some users report anxiety and depression from finasteride, while others do not experience these side effects and emphasize the importance of DHT for brain and prostate health.

      community Dutasteride Literally Saves Your Hair

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  96 upvotes 6 months ago
      Dutasteride significantly reduces scalp DHT levels and can save hair, though shedding is part of the process. Some users report success with dutasteride, while others struggle despite using it along with finasteride and oral minoxidil.

    Related Research

    4 / 4 results