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Alopecia Areata

By

Wendy S. Levinbook

, MD, Hartford Dermatology Associates

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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Topic Resources

Alopecia areata is typically sudden patchy nonscarring hair loss in people with no obvious skin or systemic disorder. Diagnosis is typically by inspection, although sometimes a skin biopsy is necessary. Treatment is with combinations of drugs applied topically, taken orally, or injected into the scalp and can include corticosteroids, anthralin, minoxidil, topical immunotherapy (ie diphenylcyclopropenone), or systemic immunosuppressants.

The scalp and beard are most frequently affected, but any hairy area may be involved. Hair loss may affect most or all of the body (alopecia universalis). Alopecia areata is thought to be an autoimmune disorder affecting genetically susceptible people exposed to unclear environmental triggers. It occasionally coexists with autoimmune vitiligo Vitiligo Vitiligo is a loss of skin melanocytes that causes areas of skin depigmentation of varying sizes. Cause is unknown, but genetic and autoimmune factors are likely. Diagnosis is usually clear... read more Vitiligo or thyroiditis Hashimoto Thyroiditis Hashimoto thyroiditis is chronic autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid with lymphocytic infiltration. Findings include painless thyroid enlargement and symptoms of hypothyroidism. Diagnosis... read more .

Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata

  • Examination

Diagnosis of alopecia areata is by inspection. Alopecia areata typically manifests as discrete circular patches of hair loss characterized by short broken hairs at the margins that resemble exclamation points. Nails are sometimes pitted, display longitudinal ridging, or display trachyonychia, a roughness of the nail also seen in lichen planus Lichen Planus Lichen planus is a recurrent, pruritic, inflammatory eruption characterized by small, discrete, polygonal, flat-topped, violaceous papules that may coalesce into rough scaly plaques, often accompanied... read more Lichen Planus . Red lunula may also be seen.

Biopsy is occasionally necessary.

Prognosis for Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata may spontaneously regress, become chronic, or spread diffusely. Risk factors for chronicity include extensive involvement, onset before adolescence, atopy, and involvement of the peripheral temporal and occipital scalp (ophiasis).

Treatment of Alopecia Areata

  • Corticosteroids

  • Sometimes topical anthralin, minoxidil, or both

  • Sometimes topical immunotherapy

  • Sometimes methotrexate or baricitinib

  • Rarely photochemotherapy or psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA)

  • Use of hairpieces and camouflage techniques

If therapy is considered, intralesional corticosteroid injection is the treatment of choice in adults. Triamcinolone acetonide suspension (typically in doses of 0.1 to 3 mL of 2.5 to 5 mg/mL concentration every 4 to 8 weeks) can be injected intradermally if the lesions are small. Potent topical corticosteroids (eg, clobetasol propionate 0.05% foam, gel, or ointment 2 times a day for about 4 weeks) can be used; however, they often do not penetrate to the depth of the hair bulb where the inflammatory process is located. Oral corticosteroids are effective, but hair loss often recurs after cessation of therapy and adverse effects limit use.

Topical anthralin cream (0.5 to 1% applied for 10 to 20 minutes daily then washed off; contact time titrated as tolerated up to 1 hour/day) may be used to stimulate a mild irritant reaction. Minoxidil 5% solution may be helpful as an adjuvant to corticosteroid or anthralin treatment.

Induction of allergic contact dermatitis using diphenylcyclopropenone or squaric acid dibutylester (topical immunotherapy) leads to hair growth due to unknown mechanisms, but this treatment is best reserved for patients with diffuse involvement who have not responded to other therapies.

Oral methotrexate has been successfully used for the treatment of alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis in both adult and pediatric populations. Doses range from 15 to 25 mg weekly. Methotrexate can also be used in combination with oral corticosteroids. Its use is typically reserved for refractory alopecia areata in patients who fail standard therapy (1 Treatment reference Alopecia areata is typically sudden patchy nonscarring hair loss in people with no obvious skin or systemic disorder. Diagnosis is typically by inspection, although sometimes a skin biopsy is... read more Treatment reference ).

Systemic and topical PUVA have been used with limited success in patients who fail conventional therapy. However, this is a less favored treatment option because of high relapse rates, lack of randomized controlled trials, and increased risk of cancer with PUVA.

Baricitinib is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor that is beneficial in treating alopecia areata.

Hairpieces and camouflage techniques can be used to mask the effects of hair loss.

Treatment reference

  • 1. Strazzulla LC, Wang EHC, Avila L, et al: Alopecia areata: An appraisal of new treatment approaches and overview of current therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol 78(1):15-24, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.04.1142

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
Dritho-Creme HP , Dritho-Scalp, Micanol, Psoriatec, ZITHRANOL, ZITHRANOL-RR
Loniten, Rogaine
Otrexup, Rasuvo, RediTrex, Rheumatrex, Trexall, Xatmep
Aristocort, Aristocort A, Aristocort Forte, Aristocort HP, Aristo-Pak, Aristospan, Azmacort, Children's Nasacort Allergy 24HR Nasal Spray, Cinalog, Cinolar, Flutex, Hexatrione, Kenalog, Kenalog in Orabase, Kenalog-10, Kenalog-40, Kenalog-80, Nasacort, Nasacort AQ, Oralone, SP Rx 228 , Tac-3 , Triacet , Triamonide , Trianex , Triderm , Triesence, XIPERE, Zilretta
Clobetavix, Clobevate, Clobex, Clodan, Cormax, Embeline, Embeline E, Impeklo, Impoyz, Olux, Olux-E, Olux-Olux-E Complete Pack, Temovate, Temovate E, Temovate Scalp, Tovet
OLUMIANT
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