Alopecia areata is a common condition causing nonscarring hair loss. It may be patchy,
involve the entire scalp (alopecia totalis) or whole body (alopecia universalis). Patients may
recover spontaneously but the disorder can follow a course of recurrent relapses or result
in persistent hair loss. Alopecia areata can cause great psychological distress, and the
most important aspect of management is counseling the patient about the unpredictable
nature and course of the condition as well as the available effective treatments, with details
of their side effects. Although many treatments have been shown to stimulate hair growth
in alopecia areata, there are limited data on their long-term efficacy and impact on quality
of life. We review the evidence for the following commonly used treatments: corticosteroids
(topical, intralesional, and systemic), topical sensitizers (diphenylcyclopropenone), psoralen
and ultraviolet A phototherapy (PUVA), minoxidil and dithranol.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 28:15-18 © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Alopecia areata is a common condition causing nonscarring hair loss. It may be patchy,
involve the entire scalp (alopecia totalis) or whole body (alopecia universalis). Patients may
recover spontaneously but the disorder can follow a course of recurrent relapses or result
in persistent hair loss. Alopecia areata can cause great psychological distress, and the
most important aspect of management is counseling the patient about the unpredictable
nature and course of the condition as well as the available effective treatments, with details
of their side effects. Although many treatments have been shown to stimulate hair growth
in alopecia areata, there are limited data on their long-term efficacy and impact on quality
of life. We review the evidence for the following commonly used treatments: corticosteroids
(topical, intralesional, and systemic), topical sensitizers (diphenylcyclopropenone), psoralen
and ultraviolet A phototherapy (PUVA), minoxidil and dithranol.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 28:15-18 © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.