Late-Onset Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The retrospective cohort study from 2009 to 2015 included 29 patients with late-onset alopecia areata (AA), defined as onset at age 50 or above, out of 288 patients with AA. The study found a significant female predominance (86.2%), with a female-to-male ratio of 6.2:1. A family history of AA was present in 17.2% of participants, thyroid disease in 31%, and atopic background in 6.9%. Stressful events were reported by 58.6% of participants. The disease was generally mild and patchy, with 82.8% of participants experiencing complete hair regrowth and 37.9% experiencing relapse. The study concluded that late-onset AA is characterized by less extensive disease, high remission rates, and frequent relapses, with 79.3% of participants having at least one co-existing systemic disease and 10.3% reporting a malignancy. Treatments were mainly topical, and initial hair regrowth was typically seen within 3 months. The study's limitations include its retrospective design, small sample size, and limited follow-up, highlighting the need for further research.