Treatment Options for Alopecia Areata

October 2011 in “ Expert Review of Dermatology ”

Stamatis Gregoriou, Charalambos Kazakos, Dimitrios Rigopoulos

TLDR Various treatments exist for alopecia areata, but none are completely satisfactory; choice depends on age, disease extent, and preference.

This document is a review of treatment options for alopecia areata, a type of hair loss caused by an autoimmune disorder. The article discusses various treatment options, including topical and systemic therapies such as corticosteroids, minoxidil, anthralin, topical immunotherapy, and phototherapy. However, the article notes that none of these treatments are completely satisfactory due to the unpredictable and chronic nature of AA, and that there is limited evidence-based knowledge on the efficacy of these treatments. The choice of treatment depends on the patient's age, extent of disease, and personal preference.

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34 / 34 results

research Efficacy and Tolerability of Methotrexate in Severe Childhood Alopecia Areata

70 citations , July 2011 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

Methotrexate sometimes helps regrow hair in children with severe alopecia areata and is generally safe.

research Trichoscopy for Common Hair Loss Diseases: Algorithmic Method for Diagnosis

89 citations , December 2010 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

The conclusion is that an algorithm using trichoscopy helps diagnose different types of hair loss but may need updates and a biopsy if results are unclear.

research Hair Transplantation for Therapy-Resistant Alopecia Areata of the Eyebrows: Is It the Right Choice?

11 citations , August 2010 in “Journal of Dermatology”

Hair transplantation can effectively treat stable eyebrow hair loss in alopecia areata patients.

research Photodynamic Therapy with Methyl 5-Aminolevulinate Acid Might Be Ineffective in Recalcitrant Alopecia Totalis Regardless of Using a Microneedle Roller to Increase Skin Penetration

27 citations , May 2010 in “Dermatologic surgery”

Photodynamic therapy with methyl 5-aminolevulinic acid is ineffective for treating alopecia totalis.

research Latanoprost in the Treatment of Eyelash Alopecia in Alopecia Areata Universalis

50 citations , April 2010 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Latanoprost can effectively treat eyelash hair loss, with 45% of patients showing hair regrowth and no reported side effects.

research Five-Year Experience in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata with Diphencyprone

37 citations , February 2010 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Diphencyprone (DPC) is an effective and safe long-term treatment for alopecia areata, especially with maintenance therapy.

research Alopecia Areata Update

391 citations , February 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Half of people with Alopecia Areata may see hair regrowth within a year without treatment, but recovery is unpredictable.

research Effects of Diphencyprone on Expression of Bcl-2 Protein in Patients with Alopecia Areata

13 citations , January 2010 in “Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology”

Diphencyprone increases Bcl-2 protein in patients with hair regrowth from alopecia areata.

research Alefacept for Severe Alopecia Areata: A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

43 citations , November 2009 in “Archives of dermatology”

Alefacept does not effectively treat severe alopecia areata.

research Instilled Bimatoprost Ophthalmic Solution in Patients with Eyelash Alopecia Areata

30 citations , September 2009 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Bimatoprost is safe but not effective for severe eyelash loss from alopecia areata, possibly helping those with less loss.

research 308-nm Excimer Laser for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Children

79 citations , September 2009 in “Pediatric dermatology”

The 308-nm Excimer laser is effective and safe for treating patchy alopecia areata in children.

research Lack of Efficacy of Topical Latanoprost and Bimatoprost Ophthalmic Solutions in Promoting Eyelash Growth in Patients with Alopecia Areata

55 citations , April 2009 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Topical latanoprost and bimatoprost eye solutions don't help eyelash growth in people with alopecia areata.

research Alopecia Areata Following Adalimumab

38 citations , January 2009 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”

A woman developed hair loss after starting a treatment with adalimumab, suggesting this medication might cause hair loss.

research Hair Growth Stimulatory Effect by a Combination of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Iron Ion

22 citations , December 2008 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

A mix of 5-aminolevulinic acid and iron ion can speed up hair growth.

research Treatment of Persistent Alopecia Areata with Sulfasalazine

45 citations , July 2008 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Sulfasalazine may help treat persistent alopecia areata.

research Lack of Response of Alopecia Areata to Pimecrolimus Cream

26 citations , July 2007 in “Clinical and experimental dermatology”

Pimecrolimus cream is not effective for treating alopecia areata.

research Development of Alopecia Areata Universalis in a Patient Receiving Adalimumab

69 citations , December 2006 in “Archives of dermatology”

Adalimumab may cause severe hair loss in some patients.

research Lack of Efficacy of Topical Latanoprost in the Treatment of Eyebrow Alopecia Areata

36 citations , December 2005 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Topical latanoprost doesn't effectively regrow hair in severe eyebrow alopecia areata cases.

research Treatment of Alopecia Areata with Anti-Interferon-Gamma Antibodies

16 citations , December 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

Blocking interferon-gamma helps prevent and treat hair loss in Alopecia Areata.

research Minoxidil: Mechanisms of Action on Hair Growth

397 citations , February 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Minoxidil boosts hair growth by opening potassium channels and increasing cell activity.

research Restoration of Hair Growth in Mice with an Alopecia Areata-Like Disease Using Topical Anthralin

29 citations , January 2004 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Topical anthralin helped regrow hair in mice with a condition similar to human alopecia.

research Efficacy of Betamethasone Valerate Foam Formulation in Comparison with Betamethasone Dipropionate Lotion in the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Alopecia Areata: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Investigator-Blinded Trial

66 citations , July 2003 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Betamethasone valerate foam is more effective and safe for treating mild-to-moderate alopecia areata than betamethasone dipropionate lotion.

research Clobetasol Propionate 0.05% Under Occlusion in the Treatment of Alopecia Totalis/Universalis

146 citations , July 2003 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Clobetasol propionate ointment can help some people with total hair loss regrow hair.

research PUVA Treatment of Alopecia Areata Totalis and Universalis: A Retrospective Study

39 citations , April 2003 in “Australasian journal of dermatology”

PUVA treatment led to significant hair regrowth in over half of the patients with alopecia areata totalis and universalis.

research Topical Tacrolimus (FK506): Treatment Failure in Four Cases of Alopecia Universalis

19 citations , September 2002 in “Acta dermato-venereologica”

Topical tacrolimus did not regrow hair in alopecia universalis patients.

research The Therapeutic Use of Topical Contact Sensitizers in Benign Dermatoses

60 citations , September 2001 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

Topical contact sensitizers can treat certain skin conditions by changing the immune response.

research Multi-Injection Plate for Intralesional Corticosteroid Treatment of Patchy Alopecia Areata

16 citations , July 2000 in “Dermatologic surgery”

The multi-injection plate is a less painful and more efficient method for treating patchy hair loss.

research Alopecia Areata: Diagnosis and Management

48 citations , May 1999 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Alopecia areata is an unpredictable autoimmune hair loss condition, treated based on severity, with half of patients regrowing hair within a year without treatment.

research PUVA Treatment of Alopecia Areata Partialis, Totalis, and Universalis: Audit of 10 Years' Experience at St John's Institute of Dermatology

105 citations , December 1995 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

PUVA treatment is generally ineffective for alopecia areata.

2 / 2 results

research Twenty Nail Dystrophy with Alopecia Areata in an Atopic Child

April 2019 in “International journal of research in dermatology”

A child with rough nails also had hair loss and allergies.

research Oral Tofacitinib: A Promising Treatment in Atopic Dermatitis, Alopecia Areata, and Vitiligo

37 citations , October 2017 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

Oral tofacitinib shows promise in treating atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata, but only slight improvement in vitiligo.