April 2019 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study found that the gut microbiota in alopecia areata patients showed distinct dysbiosis, with an overrepresentation of Firmicutes and underrepresentation of Bacteroides, aligning with patterns seen in other autoimmune disorders.
September 2025 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This study found that Hashimoto's thyroiditis and alopecia areata show distinct gut microbial patterns, with specific microbes like Bacteroides fragilis and Microbacterium sp. T32 potentially linked to autoimmune activity.
37 citations
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September 2018 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” This study found that finasteride treatment in male rats led to enduring effects on depressive-like behavior, hippocampal neurogenesis and neuroinflammation, and gut microbiota composition after withdrawal.
13 citations
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January 2022 in “Advances in Dermatology and Allergology” This review discusses the relationship between gut microbiota and alopecia areata, and it does not report new clinical results.
10 citations
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April 2024 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This study found that patients with alopecia areata had a significantly different gut microbiota composition compared to healthy controls, suggesting possible microbiota involvement in the disease's pathogenesis.