Current Status of Treatments for Alopecia Areata

    November 2014
    Pingping Ma, Hongwei Guo, Jianqiang Shi
    TLDR No cure exists for alopecia areata; treatments aim to manage symptoms.
    Alopecia areata, an immune-mediated disease targeting anagen hair follicles, had various treatment strategies based on patient age and scalp involvement extent and duration. Treatments included corticosteroids, minoxidil, immunotherapy, and biological agents, but none were curative or preventive, and many lacked randomized, controlled trials. The disease was considered autoimmune, with loss of immune privilege in hair follicles, suggesting that controlling it through initial immunosuppression followed by immune system reconstruction was an ideal strategy.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community 17M biotin and minoxidil hair regrowth progress

      in Progress Pictures  83 upvotes 1 year ago
      A user's hair regrowth journey using biotin and minoxidil after initial treatments with Nizoral shampoo and Ketoconazole serum didn't work. The comments suggest the hair loss might not be male pattern baldness (MPB), but possibly Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disorder, and recommend getting a second opinion and considering other treatments like corticosteroids.

      community Rare Non responder to Finasteride, Dutasteride, and oral minoxidil

      in Minoxidil  78 upvotes 8 months ago
      A user did not respond to finasteride, dutasteride, and oral minoxidil for hair loss after four years of treatment and is considering scalp micropigmentation (SMP). Other users suggest the hair loss pattern may indicate alopecia areata and recommend seeing a dermatologist.

      community Unofficial Dermapen/Roller Guide

      in Treatment  254 upvotes 5 years ago
      Treatments for hair loss, including microneedling (dermarolling and dermapen) and the use of minoxidil, finasteride, and RU58841. It provides detailed information about cost and usage of the various treatments, as well as potential side effects.

      community AA and Hirsutism but T levels are normal

      in Female  8 upvotes 3 years ago
      27-year-old female experiences aggressive hair thinning and hirsutism despite normal testosterone levels. Spironolactone and 2% minoxidil were ineffective; high DHEA sulfate levels may be the cause.

      community 14 months into fin + min and my hair is way worse than before

      in Chat  23 upvotes 1 month ago
      The user experienced worsening hair loss despite using finasteride, minoxidil, and microneedling. Suggestions included reducing microneedling frequency, switching to oral minoxidil, adding tretinoin, and considering dutasteride.

    Related Research

    13 / 13 results