Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune disease of the hair, typically presenting as transient non scarring patches of hair loss with preservation of the hair follicle, though it can be persistent & progressive. Commonly small round bald lesions appear on the scalp & beard (patchy alopecia areata), that can progress to total loss of scalp hair (alopecia totalis) & total all body hair loss (alopecia universalis).
AA has a complex interplay of polygenetic and environmental causes, with a lifetime incidence of approximately 2%. The skin in the affected area may appear normal or slightly reddened, with yellow or black dots, broken & exclamation point hairs seen at the margins with trichoscopy. Progress is unpredictable, hairs may regrow in a few months initially being fine & non-pigmented or the patch of baldness may expand, with further patches appearing.
General treatment principals involve steroids, local (topical creams), injectable (dermal injections) or systemic (prednisone). A protocol of PRP & growth factor treatment are innovative & have shown very promising regenerative results. Finally immunotherapy for more severe case.
