The Role of Vitamin D in Alopecia Areata
January 2016
in “
Dermatology Review
”
TLDR Vitamin D might help treat alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is an inflammatory disease characterized by noncicatricial hair loss, with its pathogenesis not fully understood. Recent research highlighted the role of autoimmune processes, evidenced by autoantibodies against hair follicle antigens and increased cytokine expression around hair follicles. Vitamin D, known for maintaining calcium homeostasis, also regulates immune responses through its receptor on various immune and hair follicle cells. It suppresses immune system activity, and its deficiency might contribute to alopecia areata's pathophysiology. The data from this period suggested that vitamin D supplementation could be a potential therapeutic option for patients with alopecia areata.