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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
Unknown
US Estimated
Unknown
Europe Estimated
Age of Onset
ICD-10
L63.9
Inheritance
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
Mitochondrial/Multigenic
X-linked dominant
X-linked recessive
Rare View
An autoimmune condition where the immune system targets hair follicles, leading to patchy hair loss on the scalp, face, and other areas. It can progress to total hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis).
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