TLDR Alopecia areata mainly affects men aged 21-40 and is linked to autoimmune issues, thyroid problems, and inflammation.
This study on 52 alopecia areata patients in Gangtok, Sikkim, found that the condition predominantly affects individuals aged 21-40, with a male preponderance. The age range of patients was 14-48 years. The study revealed associations with autoimmune conditions: 30.7% had arthritis, 7.7% tested positive for ANA, 12% had hypothyroidism, 34.6% had eosinophilia, and 7.7% had asthma. The findings suggest that alopecia areata may be linked to autoimmunity, thyroid abnormalities, atopy, and inflammation.
1 citations,
October 2021 in “International Journal of Research in Dermatology” Alopecia areata mainly affects men aged 21-40 and is linked to autoimmune issues, thyroid problems, and inflammation.
19 citations,
September 2014 in “JAMA Dermatology” Eosinophilic infiltrate is not a reliable indicator for diagnosing chronic alopecia areata.
22 citations,
June 2013 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” Early stage bald spots are linked to skin inflammation and damage to the upper part of the hair follicle.
67 citations,
January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” The document concludes that alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease without a definitive cure, but treatments like corticosteroids are commonly used.
64 citations,
July 1997 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finding eosinophils near hair bulbs helps diagnose alopecia areata.
148 citations,
December 2018 in “Journal of autoimmunity” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.
4 citations,
November 2018 in “JAAD case reports” Alopecia areata can sometimes appear as a straight line of hair loss instead of round patches.
May 2018 in “Journal of cosmetology & trichology” Combining platelet-rich plasma therapy with prostaglandin-F eye drops can significantly regrow hair in alopecia universalis.