Psoriatic Alopecia: Clinical Features, Pathogenesis, And Emerging Treatment Strategies
May 2025
in “
Skin Appendage Disorders
”
TLDR Psoriatic alopecia is a challenging hair loss condition linked to psoriasis, needing better diagnosis and personalized treatments.
Psoriatic alopecia is an underrecognized form of hair loss associated with psoriasis, characterized by both non-scarring and scarring alopecia. The condition is driven by an inflammatory process involving the Th17/IL-23 axis, leading to hair follicle disruption and, in severe cases, permanent hair loss. Diagnosis is challenging due to overlap with other types of alopecia, and treatment responses vary. Current treatments include topical corticosteroids, vitamin D analogs, and systemic biologics, but some patients do not respond to these therapies. The condition can be paradoxically induced by TNF inhibitors, complicating management. Greater clinical recognition and research are needed to improve diagnosis and treatment, with personalized approaches and novel biologics showing promise for better patient outcomes. Further studies are necessary to optimize long-term management strategies.