It is important to assess the quality of life, degree of anxiety, social phobia and mood of the patients and their families. However, newer treatment modalities, including excimer laser, interleukin-31 antibodies and biologics, are evolving so that there may be significant advances in treatment in the near future. None of the established therapeutic options are curative. Clinical efficacy is pending for these treatment modalities. To date, only a few recent patents exist in topical treatments, including Il-31, laser and herbal medications. Although herbal medicine, acupuncture, complementary and alternative medicine may be tried on children in some Asian communities, the evidence to support these practices is lacking.

In severe resistant cases, systemic immunosuppressants may be considered. Alopecia Areata Totalis Alopecia totalis results in hair loss across the entire scalp. Other topical treatments include minoxidil, anthralin, coal tar and immunotherapy. Persistent patchy alopecia areata is characterized by patchy scalp hair loss that continues over a long period of time without ever developing into extensive alopecia areata such as totalis or universalis. For localized patchy alopecia, topical application of corticosteroids and/or intralesional corticosteroids are the treatment of choice. The treatment of AA depends on factors including patients' age, the extent of the hair loss, duration of disease, psychological impact, availability and side effect profile of the treatments. The clinical course is also variable, which may range from transient episodes of recurrent patchy hair loss to an indolent gradually deteriorating severe hair loss. In more severe cases, the hair loss may affect the whole scalp and even the whole body. The pathognomonic 'exclamation mark hairs' may be seen at the lesion periphery.

In mild cases, there would be well-demarcated round patchy scalp hair loss. Pathophysiologically, T- lymphocytes attack hair follicles and cause inflammation and destruction of the hair follicles and hair loss. Evidence of genetic association and increased predisposition for AA was found by studying families with affected members. com.ĭue to an immune-mediated damage to the hair follicles, hair is lost from the scalp and other areas of the body temporarily or even permanently. Patents were searched using the key term 'alopecia areata' in and freepatentsonline. We used clinical queries and keywords 'alopecia areata' AND 'childhood' as a search engine. This article aims to review genetics, therapy, prognosis, and recent patents for AA. Alopecia Areata (AA) is a systemic autoimmune condition that usually starts in childhood.

Alopecia areata universalis treatment