Deciding When to Treat Patients With Alopecia Areata

Author(s):

Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA,Amy McMichael, MD

Key Takeaways

Alopecia areata is a chronic autoimmune disorder causing non-scarring hair loss due to immune system attacks on hair follicles.
Breakdown of immune privilege in hair follicles leads to infiltration by cytotoxic T cells, particularly CD8+ T cells.
Inflammatory cytokines like IFN-γ and TNF-α are key contributors to immune-mediated hair follicle destruction.
The chronicity of alopecia areata is linked to persistent immune dysregulation and genetic predisposition.

Panelists discuss how the decision to treat vs observe alopecia areata (AA) depends on factors such as disease severity, patient symptoms, and the use of scoring systems to guide treatment decisions.

EP: 1.Discussing the Pathophysiology of Alopecia Areata

EP: 2.Common Comorbidities Associated With Alopecia Areata

EP: 3.Hallmark Symptoms Seen With Alopecia Areata

EP: 4.Psychosocial Impact of Alopecia Areata

EP: 5.Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata

EP: 6.Multimodal Care for Patients With Alopecia Areata

EP: 7.Epidemiology Associated wWith Alopecia Areata

Now Viewing

EP: 8.Deciding When to Treat Patients With Alopecia Areata

EP: 9.Choosing an Initial Therapy for Alopecia Areata

Video content above is prompted by the following:

McMichael: In which patients do you treat AA vs use observation? Is there a scoring system that you use?