Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that targets the hair follicle.

It is characterised by sudden onset of patchy hair loss.

The diagnosis is clinical. Characteristic physical findings are exclamation mark hairs (short, broken hairs tapering proximally at the scalp) and a positive pull test. A scalp biopsy shows perifollicular inflammation.

Topical or intralesional corticosteroids are appropriate for patients with limited hair loss. Skin atrophy can be a temporary side effect.

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the hair follicles resulting in non-scarring hair loss, affecting scalp and body hair.[1]Simakou T, Butcher JP, Reid S, et al. Alopecia areata: A multifactorial autoimmune condition. J Autoimmun. 2019 Mar;98:74-85. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2018.12.001 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30558963?tool=bestpractice.com [2]Cranwell WC, Lai VW, Photiou L, et al. Treatment of alopecia areata: An Australian expert consensus statement. Australas J Dermatol. 2019 May;60(2):163-170. https://www.doi.org/10.1111/ajd.12941 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30411329?tool=bestpractice.com Typically, one or more small round patch of hair loss without atrophy is noticed. This patchy hair loss may regrow spontaneously. In other cases there can be extensive patchy hair loss and in rare cases there is total body hair loss (alopecia areata universalis), or total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis).[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Alopecia areataProvided by Paradi Mirmirani, MD [Citation ends].