Alopecia Areata Questions & Answers

1. Darwin E, Hirt PA, Fertig R, Doliner B, Delcanto G, Jimenez JJ. Alopecia Areata: Review of Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Pathogenesis, and New Treatment Options. Int J Trichology. 2018 Mar-Apr. 10 (2):51-60. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

2. King B, Ohyama M, Kwon O, and the, BRAVE-AA Investigators. Two Phase 3 Trials of Baricitinib for Alopecia Areata. N Engl J Med. 2022 May 5. 386 (18):1687-1699. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

3. King B, Zhang X, Harcha WG, Szepietowski JC, Shapiro J, Lynde C, et al. Efficacy and safety of ritlecitinib in adults and adolescents with alopecia areata: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, phase 2b-3 trial. Lancet. 2023 May 6. 401 (10387):1518-1529. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

4. Hoffmann R, Happle R. Topical immunotherapy in alopecia areata. What, how, and why?. Dermatol Clin. 1996 Oct. 14(4):739-44. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

5. Rokhsar CK, Shupack JL, Vafai JJ, Washenik K. Efficacy of topical sensitizers in the treatment of alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998 Nov. 39(5 Pt 1):751-61. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

6. Chong JH, Taïeb A, Morice-Picard F, Dutkiewicz AS, Léauté-Labrèze C, Boralevi F. High dose pulsed corticosteroid therapy combined with Methotrexate for Severe Alopecia Areata of Childhood. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017 Apr 20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

7. Browne R, Stewart L, Williams HC. Is methotrexate an effective and safe treatment for maintaining hair regrowth in people with alopecia totalis? A critically appraised topic. Br J Dermatol. 2018 May 19. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

8. van der Steen P, Traupe H, Happle R, Boezeman J, Sträter R, Hamm H. The genetic risk for alopecia areata in first degree relatives of severely affected patients. An estimate. Acta Derm Venereol. 1992 Sep. 72(5):373-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

9. Pullen LC. Alopecia Areata Associated With Autoimmune Comorbidity. Available at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804646. Accessed: May 27, 2013.

10. Huang KP, Mullangi S, Guo Y, Qureshi AA. Autoimmune, Atopic, and Mental Health Comorbid Conditions Associated With Alopecia Areata in the United States. JAMA Dermatol. 2013 May 22. 1-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

11. Colombe BW, Lou CD, Price VH. The genetic basis of alopecia areata: HLA associations with patchy alopecia areata versus alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 1999 Dec. 4(3):216-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

12. Colombe BW, Price VH, Khoury EL, Garovoy MR, Lou CD. HLA class II antigen associations help to define two types of alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995 Nov. 33(5 Pt 1):757-64. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Price VH, Colombe BW. Heritable factors distinguish two types of alopecia areata. Dermatol Clin. 1996 Oct. 14(4):679-89. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

14. Jackow C, Puffer N, Hordinsky M, Nelson J, Tarrand J, Duvic M. Alopecia areata and cytomegalovirus infection in twins: genes versus environment?. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998 Mar. 38(3):418-25. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Safavi K. Prevalence of alopecia areata in the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Arch Dermatol. 1992 May. 128(5):702. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

16. Safavi KH, Muller SA, Suman VJ, Moshell AN, Melton LJ 3rd. Incidence of alopecia areata in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1975 through 1989. Mayo Clin Proc. 1995 Jul. 70(7):628-33. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

17. Muller SA, Winkelmann RK. Alopecia areata. An evaluation of 736 patients. Arch Dermatol. 1963 Sep. 88:290-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Sharma VK, Dawn G, Kumar B. Profile of alopecia areata in Northern India. Int J Dermatol. 1996 Jan. 35(1):22-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

19. Puavilai S, Puavilai G, Charuwichitratana S, Sakuntabhai A, Sriprachya-Anunt S. Prevalence of thyroid diseases in patients with alopecia areata. Int J Dermatol. 1994 Sep. 33(9):632-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

20. Werth VP, White WL, Sanchez MR, Franks AG. Incidence of alopecia areata in lupus erythematosus. Arch Dermatol. 1992 Mar. 128(3):368-71. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

21. Wang SJ, Shohat T, Vadheim C, Shellow W, Edwards J, Rotter JI. Increased risk for type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes in relatives of patients with alopecia areata (AA). Am J Med Genet. 1994 Jul 1. 51(3):234-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

22. Perini GI, Veller Fornasa C, Cipriani R, Bettin A, Zecchino F, Peserico A. Life events and alopecia areata. Psychother Psychosom. 1984. 41(1):48-52. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

23. Karadag Köse O, Güleç AT. Clinical evaluation of alopecias using a handheld dermatoscope. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Aug. 67(2):206-14. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

24. Tosti A, De Padova MP, Minghetti G, Veronesi S. Therapies versus placebo in the treatment of patchy alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986 Aug. 15(2 Pt 1):209-10. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

25. Vestey JP, Savin JA. Natural history of severe alopecia areata. Br J Dermatol. 1987 Oct. 117(4):531. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

26. Devi M, Rashid A, Ghafoor R. Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide Versus Topical Betamethasone Valearate in the Management of Localized Alopecia Areata. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2015 Dec. 25 (12):860-2. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

27. Yee BE, Tong Y, Goldenberg A, Hata T. Efficacy of different concentrations of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide for alopecia areata: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Apr. 82 (4):1018-1021. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

28. Chu TW, AlJasser M, Alharbi A, Abahussein O, McElwee K, Shapiro J. Benefit of different concentrations of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in alopecia areata: An intrasubject pilot study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Aug. 73 (2):338-40. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

29. Chang KH, Rojhirunsakool S, Goldberg LJ. Treatment of severe alopecia areata with intralesional steroid injections. J Drugs Dermatol. 2009 Oct. 8(10):909-12. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

30. Tosti A, Piraccini BM, Pazzaglia M, Vincenzi C. Clobetasol propionate 0.05% under occlusion in the treatment of alopecia totalis/universalis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003 Jul. 49(1):96-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

31. Wiseman MC, Shapiro J, MacDonald N, Lui H. Predictive model for immunotherapy of alopecia areata with diphencyprone. Arch Dermatol. 2001 Aug. 137(8):1063-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

32. El-Zawahry BM, Bassiouny DA, Khella A, Zaki NS. Five-year experience in the treatment of alopecia areata with DPC. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010 Mar. 24(3):264-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

33. Tang L, Cao L, Sundberg JP, Lui H, Shapiro J. Restoration of hair growth in mice with an alopecia areata-like disease using topical anthralin. Exp Dermatol. 2004 Jan. 13(1):5-10. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

34. Durdu M, Özcan D, Baba M, Seçkin D. Efficacy and safety of diphenylcyclopropenone alone or in combination with anthralin in the treatment of chronic extensive alopecia areata: a retrospective case series. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Apr. 72 (4):640-50. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

35. Vila TO, Camacho Martinez FM. Bimatoprost in the treatment of eyelash universalis alopecia areata. Int J Trichology. 2010 Jul. 2 (2):86-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

36. Coronel-Pérez IM, Rodríguez-Rey EM, Camacho-Martínez FM. Latanoprost in the treatment of eyelash alopecia in alopecia areata universalis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010 Apr. 24 (4):481-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

37. Ross EK, Bolduc C, Lui H, Shapiro J. Lack of efficacy of topical latanoprost in the treatment of eyebrow alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Dec. 53 (6):1095-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

38. Faghihi G, Andalib F, Asilian A. The efficacy of latanoprost in the treatment of alopecia areata of eyelashes and eyebrows. Eur J Dermatol. 2009 Nov-Dec. 19 (6):586-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

39. Roseborough I, Lee H, Chwalek J, Stamper RL, Price VH. Lack of efficacy of topical latanoprost and bimatoprost ophthalmic solutions in promoting eyelash growth in patients with alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Apr. 60 (4):705-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

40. Ochoa BE, Sah D, Wang G, Stamper R, Price VH. Instilled bimatoprost ophthalmic solution in patients with eyelash alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Sep. 61 (3):530-2. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

41. Taylor CR, Hawk JL. PUVA treatment of alopecia areata partialis, totalis and universalis: audit of 10 years' experience at St John's Institute of Dermatology. Br J Dermatol. 1995 Dec. 133(6):914-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

42. Ibrahim O, Bayart CB, Hogan S, Piliang M, Bergfeld WF. Treatment of Alopecia Areata With Tofacitinib. JAMA Dermatol. 2017 Mar 29. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

43. Liu LY, Craiglow BG, Dai F, King BA. Tofacitinib for the treatment of severe alopecia areata and variants: A study of 90 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jan. 76 (1):22-28. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

44. Craiglow BG, Liu LY, King BA. Tofacitinib for the treatment of alopecia areata and variants in adolescents. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jan. 76 (1):29-32. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

45. Vandiver A, Girardi N, Alhariri J, Garza LA. Two cases of alopecia areata treated with ruxolitinib: a discussion of ideal dosing and laboratory monitoring. Int J Dermatol. 2017 Mar 21. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

46. Shreberk-Hassidim R, Ramot Y, Zlotogorski A. Janus kinase inhibitors in dermatology: A systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Apr. 76 (4):745-753.e19. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

47. Damsky W, King BA. JAK inhibitors in dermatology: The promise of a new drug class. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Apr. 76 (4):736-744. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

48. Samadi A, Ahmad Nasrollahi S, Hashemi A, Nassiri Kashani M, Firooz A. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for the treatment of skin and hair disorders: a review of literature. J Dermatolog Treat. 2017 Jan 22. 1-11. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

49. Ramot Y, Zlotogorski A. Complete Regrowth of Beard Hair with Ruxolitinib in an Alopecia Universalis Patient. Skin Appendage Disord. 2018 Apr. 4 (2):122-124. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

50. Iorizzo M, Tosti A. Emerging drugs for alopecia areata: JAK inhibitors. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs. 2018 Mar. 23 (1):77-81. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

51. Olsen EA, Kornacki D, Sun K, Hordinsky MK. Ruxolitinib cream for the treatment of patients with alopecia areata: A 2-part, double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled phase 2 study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Feb. 82 (2):412-419. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

52. Marks DH, Mesinkovska N, Senna MM. Cause or cure? Review of dupilumab and alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Jun 13. 19:30973-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

53. Long-term PF-06651600 for the treatment of alopecia areata (ALLEGRO-LT). ClinicalTrials.gov. Available at https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04006457. 2023 May 25; Accessed: June 27, 2023.

54. Sharma VK. Pulsed administration of corticosteroids in the treatment of alopecia areata. Int J Dermatol. 1996 Feb. 35(2):133-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

55. Acikgoz G, Ozmen I, Cayirli M, Yeniay Y, Kose O. Pulse methylprednisolone therapy for the treatment of extensive alopecia areata. J Dermatolog Treat. 2014 Apr. 25(2):164-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

56. Friedland R, Tal R, Lapidoth M, Zvulunov A, Ben Amitai D. Pulse corticosteroid therapy for alopecia areata in children: a retrospective study. Dermatology. 2013. 227(1):37-44. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

57. Price VH, Willey A, Chen BK. Topical tacrolimus in alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Jan. 52(1):138-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

58. Joly P. The use of methotrexate alone or in combination with low doses of oral corticosteroids in the treatment of alopecia totalis or universalis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 Oct. 55(4):632-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

59. Anuset D, Perceau G, Bernard P, Reguiai Z. Efficacy and Safety of Methotrexate Combined with Low- to Moderate-Dose Corticosteroids for Severe Alopecia Areata. Dermatology. 2016. 232 (2):242-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

60. Phan K, Ramachandran V, Sebaratnam DF. Methotrexate for alopecia areata: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Jan. 80 (1):120-127.e2. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

61. Ross EK, Bolduc C, Lui H, Shapiro J. Lack of efficacy of topical latanoprost in the treatment of eyebrow alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Dec. 53(6):1095-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

62. Price VH. Treatment of hair loss. N Engl J Med. 1999 Sep 23. 341(13):964-73. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

63. Strober BE, Siu K, Alexis AF, Kim G, Washenik K, Sinha A, et al. Etanercept does not effectively treat moderate to severe alopecia areata: an open-label study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Jun. 52(6):1082-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

64. Mikhaylov D, Pavel A, Yao C, Kimmel G, Nia J, Hashim P, et al. A randomized placebo-controlled single-center pilot study of the safety and efficacy of apremilast in subjects with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol Res. 2019 Jan. 311 (1):29-36. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

65. Grenier PO, Veillette H. Treatment of alopecia universalis with oral alitretinoin: A case report. JAAD Case Rep. 2017 Mar. 3 (2):140-142. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

66. Lattouf C, Jimenez JJ, Tosti A, Miteva M, Wikramanayake TC, Kittles C, et al. Treatment of alopecia areata with simvastatin/ezetimibe. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Feb. 72 (2):359-61. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

67. Morillo-Hernandez C, Lee JJ, English JC 3rd. Retrospective outcome analysis of 25 alopecia areata patients treated with simvastatin/ezetimibe. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Sep. 81 (3):854-857. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

68. Albalat W, Ebrahim HM. Evaluation of platelet-rich plasma vs intralesional steroid in treatment of alopecia areata. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 May 10. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

69. Anderi R, Makdissy N, Azar A, Rizk F, Hamade A. Cellular therapy with human autologous adipose-derived adult cells of stromal vascular fraction for alopecia areata. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2018 May 15. 9 (1):141. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

70. Abdel Fattah NS, Atef MM, Al-Qaradaghi SM. Evaluation of serum zinc level in patients with newly diagnosed and resistant alopecia areata. Int J Dermatol. 2016 Jan. 55 (1):24-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

71. Park H, Kim CW, Kim SS, Park CW. The therapeutic effect and the changed serum zinc level after zinc supplementation in alopecia areata patients who had a low serum zinc level. Ann Dermatol. 2009 May. 21 (2):142-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

72. Lux-Battistelli C. Combination therapy with zinc gluconate and PUVA for alopecia areata totalis: an adjunctive but crucial role of zinc supplementation. Dermatol Ther. 2015 Jul-Aug. 28 (4):235-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

73. Dastgheib L, Mostafavi-Pour Z, Abdorazagh AA, Khoshdel Z, Sadati MS, Ahrari I, et al. Comparison of zn, cu, and fe content in hair and serum in alopecia areata patients with normal group. Dermatol Res Pract. 2014. 2014:784863. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

74. van den Biggelaar FJ, Smolders J, Jansen JF. Complementary and alternative medicine in alopecia areata. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2010. 11(1):11-20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

75. Willemsen R, Haentjens P, Roseeuw D, Vanderlinden J. Hypnosis in refractory alopecia areata significantly improves depression, anxiety, and life quality but not hair regrowth. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 Mar. 62(3):517-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Chantal Bolduc, MD, FRCPC Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine; Physician, Innovaderm Research, Inc

Chantal Bolduc, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: Canadian Dermatology Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia; Medical Director, The Skin Centre, Lions Laser Skin Centre and Psoriasis and Phototherapy Clinic, Vancouver General Hospital

Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: Canadian Medical Association, American Society for Photobiology, Photomedicine Society, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, National Psoriasis Foundation, Canadian Dermatology Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, North American Hair Research Society, Canadian Dermatology Foundation, American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery

Disclosure: Received consulting fee from Astellas for review panel membership; Received consulting fee from Amgen/Wyeth for speaking and teaching; Received honoraria from LEO Pharma for speaking and teaching; Received grant/research funds from LEO Pharma for investigator; Received grant/research funds from Galderma for other.

Jerry Shapiro, MD, FAAD, FRCPC Professor, Director, Disorders of the Hair and Scalp, The Ronald O Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Texas Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lester F Libow, MD Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory

Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Dirk M Elston, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Leonard Sperling, MD Chair, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Leonard Sperling, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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