Alopecia areata. A review of therapy, efficacy, safety, and mechanism

High-Dose Pulse Corticosteroid Therapy in the Treatment of Severe Alopecia areata

“…A major problem, however, is the development of extensive and progressive AA that remains unaffected by any form of treatment modalities currently performed [1, 2, 5]. While widely used in the 1970s, systemic corticosteroids were partially abandoned in the 1980s because of long-term side effects such as acne, obesity, hypertension, lens opacities and impaired adrenocorticotrophic hormone reserves.…”

“…The incidence of alopecia areata (AA) in the Caucasian population is estimated to be 0.05–0.1% [1]. With the first clinical manifestations often occurring early in childhood, the clinical course of the disease is variable: while some patients develop spontaneous remissions, others progress to total loss of their scalp hair (alopecia totalis) or body as well as scalp hair (alopecia universalis) [2].…”

Vandetanib‐associated alopecia areata in a patient with metastatic medullary thyroid cancer

“…Therapies may include anthralin, minoxidil, psoralen, and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy, and topical or systemic corticosteroids. 10,12,13 Because of the multifactorial etiology and uncertain pathogenesis of alopecia areata, many of these treatments have a high failure rate. 10 When a diagnosis of alopecia areata is entertained, it is imperative to consider other causes of hair loss, such as alopecia induced by collagen diseases, infection, syphilis, thyroid disease, trichotillomania, and deficiencies of either iron or zinc.…”

Successful Hair Transplant of Eyebrow Alopecia Areata

“…Topical therapies must often be used for as long as three months before evidence of regrowth is noted. 3 Other nonsurgical options that have been mentioned and much less commonly used include PUVA photochemotherapy, systemic corticosteroids, and cyclosporine. Comprehensive reviews that outline treatment options and algorithms are available in the existing body of literature.…”