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Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata, also known as spot baldness, is a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body
Prevalence
N/A
Age of Onset
ICD-10
L63.9
Inheritance
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
Mitochondrial/Multigenic
X-linked dominant
X-linked recessive
Rare View
Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic, autoimmune disorder of non-scarring hair loss mediated by T-lymphocytes against the hair follicular unit. Alopecia totalis (AT) is a condition characterized by the complete loss of hair on the scalp. It is an advanced form of alopecia areata a condition that causes round patches of hair loss.
5 Facts you should know
FACT
Approximately 2% of the global population suffer from AA over the course of their lifetime
FACT
It can affect all age groups, but typically occurs by age 40
FACT
It affects people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds
FACT
The pathophysiology involves multiple immune effector cells, including CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells
FACT
The inflammation around the hair follicle is driven by inflammatory cytokines, which may lead to hair loss
Interest over time
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Common signs & symptoms
Alopecia totalis
Alopecia universalis
Autoimmunity
Multifactorial inheritance
Nail pits
Patchy alopecia
Trachyonychia
Current treatments
Topical Corticosteroids:
These are anti-inflammatory medications applied directly to the affected areas of the skin to reduce inflammation and promote hair regrowth
Intralesional Corticosteroid Injections:
Corticosteroids are injected into the bald patches. This is often used for localized cases
Topical Immunotherapy:
Chemicals like diphencyprone (DPCP) or squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) are applied to the scalp to provoke an allergic reaction, which may stimulate hair regrowth