Local treatments for alopecia areata: an update

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Dermatology 'venerology 'andrology, Faculty of medicine, Sohag university

2 Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University

Abstract

Alopecia areata AA is a common cause of non-scarring alopecia, with patchy, confluent, or diffuse patterns, involving mainly the scalp and other hairy areas of the body. It's considered a therapeutic challenge due to prognosis, unpredictable course, and variable efficacy of available therapies. An overriding consideration in the management of AA is that although the disease may have a serious psychological effect, it has no direct impact on general health that justifies the use of hazardous treatments particularly of unproven efficacy. Many patients experience spontaneous regrowth of hair without any treatment. However, the psychological effects of alopecia may impact on general health and depends on the individual’s coping strategy when dealing with an altered body image. AA is not easily treated, and unfortunately, no universal totally accepted treatment exists for all cases. A relationship among psychiatric comorbidities, stressful life events, and AA was demonstrated so, adjuvant psychotherapy and support groups should be considered beside topical, systemic, intralesional and phototherapy modalities.

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Sohag Medical Journal
Volume 28, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Clinical Science Volume
2024
Pages 19-27

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