Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata: Apples and Oranges?

October 2013 in “ Experimental Dermatology ”

John E. Harris

alopecia areata vitiligo autoimmune skin diseases melanocyte destruction patchy hair loss immune cell populations cytokines genetic risk factors familial associations

Studysummary This review discusses the similar immune pathways and genetic risk factors of vitiligo and alopecia areata but reports no new clinical findings, emphasizing the potential for shared treatment research.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

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Research cited in this study

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research Autoimmune Disease Induction in a Healthy Human Organ: A Humanized Mouse Model of Alopecia Areata

75 citations , October 2012 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study developed an animal model that recreates alopecia areata by injecting healthy human skin grafts in immunocompromised mice with peripheral blood mononuclear cells enriched for NKG2D+ and CD56+ cells.

research Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss

421 citations , April 2012 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss with no cure and treatments that often don't work well.

research Diphencyprone Induced Vitiligo: A Case Report

10 citations , January 2012 in “Case reports in medicine”

This report describes two cases where patients developed vitiligo as a side effect of diphencyprone treatment for alopecia areata, highlighting the need to inform patients about this potential adverse effect.

research Concurrence of Alopecia Areata and Vitiligo at the Same Anatomical Site

14 citations , June 2011 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology”

This study reports a rare case of an 8-year-old boy with both alopecia areata and vitiligo coexisting within the same lesion on his scalp.

research Alopecia Areata: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Unusual Cases

109 citations , May 2011 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

This article reviews the characteristics, associations, and diagnostic criteria for alopecia areata and reports no new clinical findings; the authors note the disease's unpredictable course and variable prognosis.

research Generalized Vitiligo Associated Autoimmune Diseases in Japanese Patients and Their Families

81 citations , January 2011 in “Allergology International”

Among Japanese patients with generalized vitiligo, this study found a genetic susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, particularly autoimmune thyroid disease, within families.

research Trichohyalin Is a Potential Major Autoantigen in Human Alopecia Areata

66 citations , July 2010 in “Journal of Proteome Research”

This study suggests that an immune response to trichohyalin and keratin 16 may contribute to the pathogenesis of alopecia areata.

research Genome-Wide Association Study in Alopecia Areata Implicates Both Innate and Adaptive Immunity

717 citations , June 2010 in “Nature”

This study identified key genetic regions associated with alopecia areata, highlighting both acquired and innate immune involvement, with a novel link to the upregulation of ULBP ligands in autoimmune disease.

research Alopecia Areata as Another Immune-Mediated Disease Developed in Patients Treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Blocker Agents

61 citations , June 2010 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study highlights cases of alopecia areata that developed during anti-TNF-α therapy, suggesting a potential link or increased frequency, particularly among individuals with a personal or family history of autoimmune diseases.

research Renbök Phenomenon and Contact Sensitization in a Patient With Alopecia Universalis

18 citations , April 2010 in “Archives of Dermatology”

This case report describes a patient with psoriasis and alopecia universalis where psoriasis plaques supported hair growth, suggesting cytokine interaction may influence competing immune responses.

An Unusual Anatomical Colocalization of Alopecia Areata and Vitiligo in a Child, and Improvement During Treatment with Topical Prostaglandin E2

research An Unusual Anatomical Colocalization of Alopecia Areata and Vitiligo in a Child, and Improvement During Treatment with Topical Prostaglandin E2

14 citations , November 2009 in “Clinical and experimental dermatology”

This article presents a case report of a child with coexisting alopecia areata and vitiligo showing improvement with topical prostaglandin E2 treatment, without reporting new clinical results.

research Alopecia Areata: Evidence-Based Treatments

71 citations , March 2009 in “Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery”

This review discusses evidence for alopecia areata treatments, highlighting their ability to stimulate hair growth but noting limited data on long-term efficacy and impact on quality of life.

research Maintenance of Hair Follicle Immune Privilege Is Linked to Prevention of NK Cell Attack

253 citations , December 2007 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study suggests that human hair follicles may actively suppress natural killer cells, which contrasts with the observed defects in NK cell regulation in alopecia areata.

research Lymphocytes, Neuropeptides, And Genes Involved In Alopecia Areata

286 citations , August 2007 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

This review examines the interplay of genetics and neuroimmunology in alopecia areata, highlighting its potential to inform broader autoimmunity research, but reports no new findings.

research Animal and In Vitro Models for the Study of Hair Follicles

45 citations , June 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

This review discusses various in vitro and in vivo models for studying hair follicle function, noting their potential in developing new treatments for hair disorders but reports no new results.

research Gene Array Profiling and Immunomodulation Studies Define a Cell-Mediated Immune Response Underlying the Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata in a Mouse Model and Humans

114 citations , August 2002 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Alopecia areata is caused by an immune response, and targeting immune cells might help treat it.

research Cellular And Developmental Aspects Of Androgenetic Alopecia

192 citations , October 1998 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This article examines the terminal to vellus transition in androgenetic alopecia through cellular and developmental mechanisms, discussing challenges and knowledge gaps without presenting new clinical findings.

research Colocalization of Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata

17 citations , March 1994 in “Pediatric Dermatology”

This report describes the co-occurrence of vitiligo and alopecia areata in pediatric cases but provides no new clinical findings.