The role of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation in the management of alopecia areata

Like a mysterious thief in the night, alopecia areata (AA) suddenly appears without warning—seemingly without rhyme or reason—randomly robbing the hair and subsequently the self-esteem of those affected. Very persuasive scientific evidence now suggests that AA is a T-lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune disease directed against an as yet unidentified hair follicle autoantigen in genetically susceptible individuals. The severity of the clinical phenotypes seen in AA run the gamut from patchy hair loss localized in one or more areas, to total scalp hair loss [alopecia totalis (AT)], to complete body hair loss [alopecia universalis (AU)]. Although not life threatening, AA is most certainly life altering, and its sudden onset, recurrent episodes, and highly unpredictable course have a profound psychological impact on the lives of those with the disease. There are a limited number of therapeutic agents available to treat AA. Responses vary widely and the hard fact remains that any treatment, no matter how successful, does not alter the ultimate course of this capricious and recalcitrant disease. Founded in 1981 to meet the challenges of AA and mollify the deep emotional pain inflicted by this disease, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) now serves as the world center of information and hope for those with AA. The foundation plays a crucial role in the management of AA by encouraging and funding medical research for better treatment and an ultimate cure, by providing support and resources for those with the condition, and by raising public awareness of the disease.     

Tale of Two Alopecias: Alopecia Areata and Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia Occurring in the Same Patient

Introduction: Scarring and non-scarring alopecias have rarely been described to occur together in the same patient. Distinguishing these two different types of alopecia is important as treatment and prognosis can be different.Case presentation: Here, we report the first case of simultaneous alopecia areata (AA) and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) in a 35-year-old woman. New alopecic patches were noted on her frontal and vertex scalp. Biopsy of the frontal scalp revealed miniaturi...     

斑秃患者合并甲病变及中医证型分析

目的探讨斑秃患者伴甲病变情况。方法回顾分析2010年3月—11月所收集的197例斑秃患者病史资料。结果合并甲病变者有70例,甲病变率为35.5%,其甲病变率较高的分别是重症斑秃(59.2%)、全秃(75.0%)、普秃(64.0%),而甲病变类型又以甲纵嵴、甲凹点及糙甲最为常见。结论斑秃患者一旦出现甲损害可能是一种预后不良的指征。伴甲病变的斑秃患者的中医证型以肝肾不足型、气血两虚型最常见。     

Alopecia areata masquerading as frontal fibrosing alopecia

SUMMARY Postmenopausal women with frontal recession may represent a diagnostic challenge, as frontal fibrosing alopecia and alopecia areata may be clinically difficult to distinguish. A 53-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with a progressive fronto-temporal marginal alopecia with sparing of her eyebrows. Scalp biopsy of the affected frontal hairline revealed peribulbar lymphocytic inflammation, but no evidence of lichenoid inflammation, perifollicular fibrosis or scarring. Whereas the pathology strongly favoured alopecia areata, the clinical features overlapped with frontal fibrosing alopecia, a variant of lichen planopilaris targeting the frontal scalp. This paper presents an atypical clinical presentation of alopecia areata, which may be mistaken for frontal fibrosing alopecia.     

Shedding Light on Alopecia Areata in Pediatrics: A Retrospective Analysis of Comorbidities in Children in the National Alopecia Areata Registry

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune disease and it is challenging to predict which patients will have severe disease. The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify comorbidities in children enrolled in the National Alopecia Areata Registry. Atopic dermatitis was more common in patients with severe AA than in those with mild disease. The most common autoimmune comorbidities were vitiligo, psoriasis, thyroid disease, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.     

Experience with oral tofacitinib in two adolescents and seven adults with alopecia areata

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common disease that results in nonscarring hair loss. Recently, tofacitinib (TOFA) has been a novel promising therapy for AA. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of oral TOFA treatment for alopecia areata (AA), and alopecia universalis (AU). Data of nine patients treated with oral TOFA with either AA or AU were retrospectively evaluated. Treatment outcome, disease severity, and therapeutic response were evaluated by Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scores along with regular photographic surveillance done at third and sixth months. Treatment response was established on four categories: complete response (90% change in latest SALT score), intermediate response (51–90% change), moderate response (6–50% change), and nonresponse (<5% change). Nine patients aged 13–33 years were reviewed. Four patients (44.4%) did not respond to oral TOFA therapy, three patients (33.3%) were moderate responders, 1 (11.1%) was intermediate responder, and 1 (11.1%) was complete responder at the end of 6 months. The clinical response rate (those who achieved ≥5–100% change in SALT score) was 41.4% for all patients. Most of the patients who responded to TOFA had AA instead of AU. Adverse effects were mild. The clinical response rate of TOFA seems reasonable and TOFA was well‐tolerated in this cohort. However, to truly evaluate efficacy, future studies are needed to assess the efficacy, adverse effects, and durability of treatment with TOFA in randomized controlled trials.     

The psychological consequences of androgenetic alopecia: A systematic review

Introduction

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in both males and females. In a society that places significant value on hair and associates it with attractiveness, a lack there of can have damaging psychological consequences. The psychosocial impact of hair loss is often overlooked due to the medically benign nature of offending conditions. Addressing the psychological aspects of androgenetic alopecia can improve holistic patient care and patient outcomes.

Methods

A search was conducted in PubMed using the following search strategy: androgenetic alopecia AND anxiety OR depression OR psychological OR psychosocial OR self-esteem. Studies were excluded if they focused on any other type of alopecia or were published in a language other than English.

Results

A total of 13 studies were retained after the initial search process. The included studies date from 1992 to 2021. They all conclude that androgenetic alopecia serves as a significant psychosocial stressor in the lives of those affected. It impairs quality of life according to multiple measures.

Conclusion

The data examined from these studies shed light on the increased need to attend to the psychosocial comorbidity associated with androgenetic alopecia. These hair-loss patients often present to dermatology clinics to seek treatment but would also benefit from psychological support.     

76例重型斑秃的临床分析

目的 :探讨重型斑秃的临床特征。方法 :回顾分析了近 4年诊治的 76例重型斑秃病例。结果 :重型斑秃中女性患者的病程比男性患者长 (P <0 0 5 ) ,与重型斑秃中的斑秃相比 ,甲异常改变更多见于全秃和普秃患者 (P <0 0 5 ) ,有家族斑秃史患者与无家族斑秃史患者比较 ,两者的初次发病年龄有显著性差异 (P <0 0 5 ) ,发病前伴有精神神经因素诱发者比无伴有精神神经因素诱发者病程要短 (P <0 0 5 )。结论 :女性重型斑秃患者可能病程更容易持续延绵、迁移反复 ,重型斑秃中有家族斑秃史者 ,它的发病年龄更早 ,甲异常改变不但多见于病程较长、病情顽固、反复的患者 ,而且也多见于病情较重的患者 ,全秃和普秃患者甲异常改变更多见 ,重型斑秃的治疗应注意精神因素的影响及强调综合治疗。     

Alopecia Areata in Korea (1982–1994)

I clinically studied 905 patients with alopecia areata (AA) who visited the Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Chung Ang University, from January of 1982 to February of 1994. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations and compare the effects of treatment with intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide suspension and immunotherapy with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) or diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP). The results were as follows: 1) The incidence of AA among all out-patients (59,970) was 1.5% (905 cases), and the ratio of males to females was 1.3:1 (512:393). 2) The age distribution showed high incidences in the third (41.8%) and fourth decades (20.0%). 3) The family history was contributory in 104 cases (11.5%). 4) The relapse rate was 17.5% (158 cases). 5) Almost half of the patients had a solitary lesion (408 cases, 46.7%). 6) The most common site of predilection was the occipital region of the scalp in both male and female patients. 7) Associated diseases were seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, hepatitis, hypertension, open heart surgery, thyroid disease, pulmonary disease, and vitiligo in order of frequency. 8) The effect of treatment on the patients who had bald patches less than 50 cm² was not significantly statistically different between intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide and immunotherapy with DNCB or DPCP. 9) In cases with bald areas more than 50 cm², including alopecia totalis and universalis, DNCB or DPCP immunotherapy showed better therapeutic effects than did intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide.     

Altered polyamine profiling in the hair of patients with androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata

Hair follicles are among the most highly proliferative tissues. Polyamines are associated with proliferation, and several polyamines including spermidine and spermine play anti‐inflammatory roles. Androgenic alopecia results from increased dihydrotestosterone metabolism, and alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. This study aimed to investigate differences in polyamine profiles in hair samples between patients with androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata. Polyamine concentrations were determined through high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Hair samples were derivatized with isobutyl chloroformate. Differences in polyamine levels were observed between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata compared with normal controls. In particular, polyamine levels were higher in alopecia areata patients than in normal controls. Certain polyamines displayed different concentrations between the androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata groups, suggesting that some polyamines, particularly N‐acetyl putrescine (P = 0.007) and N‐acetyl cadaverine (P = 0.0021), are significantly different in androgenic alopecia. Furthermore, spermidine (P = 0.021) was significantly different in alopecia areata. Our findings suggest that non‐invasive quantification of hair polyamines may help distinguish between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata. Our study provides novel insights into physiological alterations in patients with androgenic alopecia and those with alopecia areata and reveals some differences in polyamine levels in hair loss diseases with two different modes of action.     

Treatment of chemotherapy-induced alopecia

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia has been well documented as a cause of distress to patients undergoing cancer treatment. Despite the importance of hair loss to patients, however, patients often receive little more counseling than the advice to purchase a wig or other head covering for the duration of their treatment. Research into non-camouflage (wigs, turbans, and head scarves) treatment methods has been complicated both by a lack of a standardized methodology for evaluating hair loss and hair regrowth and by a lack of human trials. Nevertheless, scalp cooling as a method of preventing hair loss during chemotherapy and 2% topical minoxidil as a therapy for accelerating regrowth after chemotherapy are both effective non-camouflage options for treatment. Other proposed treatments for prevention of hair loss during chemotherapy have demonstrated promise in early trials, but these findings will need validation from rigorous further studies. The increasing number of reports of permanent alopecia not just with pre-bone marrow transplant, high-dose busulfan, and cyclophosphamide regimens but also with standard breast cancer chemotherapy regimens illustrates the importance of further research into treatment methods for chemotherapy-induced alopecia.     

自体毛发移植术治疗永久性秃发146例疗效观察

应用毛发移植术对146例永久性秃发患者进行治疗。结果：结果术后平均3个月生长出新发，移植毛发成活率大于90％，原秃发区头发密度得到较大改观，患者较为满意，未见严重并发症。     

Histopathologic diagnosis of multifactorial alopecia

Establishing a definitive diagnosis for any form of alopecia can be challenging. Adding to the diagnostic complexity is the fact that many patients have more than one form of alopecia contributing to their hair loss. We conducted a review of 1360 consecutive scalp biopsy specimens submitted for the evaluation of scalp hair loss over a 16‐month period, demonstrating that 12.5% of cases had a combination of diagnoses (multifactorial alopecia) accounting for their hair loss. An approach to the histopathologic diagnosis of multifactorial alopecia, particularly multiple forms of alopecia found in a single biopsy, is here presented.