Melanocytes: A Possible Autoimmune Target in Alopecia Areata

    August 2009 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Stephanie Trautman, Michele M. Thompson, Janet L. Roberts, Curtis T. Thompson
    TLDR Melanocytes might be targeted by the immune system in people with alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
    The study investigated the role of melanocytes as potential autoimmune targets in alopecia areata (AA). Using immunoperoxidase stains on scalp samples from 18 AA patients, researchers found a significant reduction in melanocyte density compared to 5 control subjects. Specifically, 72% of AA patients showed only trace to 1+ staining for melanocytes, while all control samples exhibited 3+ staining. This reduction was observed across all hair growth phases. The findings suggested a decreased number of follicular melanocytes in AA, but it remained unclear whether this was due to autoimmune attack or rapid hair cycling. Further research was needed to distinguish between these possibilities.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community New Treatments, and a Huge Group Buy with Lots of Research

      in Research/Science  109 upvotes 2 years ago
      A user is organizing a group buy for various compounds aimed at reversing hair loss and gray hair, and improving brain health and fat loss. The user has developed a treatment plan based on extensive research and is inviting others to participate, with the option to choose only the compounds they need.

      community Great news recently for people with hairloss!

      in Research/Science  113 upvotes 11 months ago
      A potential treatment for alopecia involving a protein that calms hair follicles has shown promise in rats, but skepticism remains about its applicability to humans. Many users express doubt about the timeline for effective hair loss treatments, comparing it to past unfulfilled promises.

      community Well here I am 3-4 years later.

      in Update  56 upvotes 2 years ago
      The conversation is about someone who has been taking finasteride for hair loss without success, considering switching to dutasteride or giving up treatment. Suggestions include trying dutasteride, microneedling, infrared therapy, multivitamins, and high-concentration topical solutions combining finasteride and dutasteride.

      community Please stop looking for a natural way to stop your hairloss

      in Chat  247 upvotes 4 years ago
      There is no natural way to stop hair loss; pharmaceuticals like minoxidil, finasteride, and RU58841 are the only effective treatments. Some users report success with minoxidil and microneedling, while others discuss the side effects of finasteride.

    Related Research

    4 / 4 results