Drug-Induced Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examined drug-induced alopecia areata (AA) by analyzing 66 articles, including 55 case reports, 9 case series, and 2 retrospective studies, covering 102 patients with an average age of 39.5 years. The study identified 30 drugs associated with AA, with 76% of cases linked to monoclonal antibodies, particularly TNF-alpha inhibitors and dupilumab. Most patients (70.5%) presented with patchy AA, and the average time to onset was 11.7 months. Discontinuation of the implicated drug led to hair regrowth in nearly all cases, while continued use required additional treatment for regrowth. The study highlights the need for clinicians to recognize AA as a potential side effect of these medications.