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Review
. 2023 Mar 31:16:803-820.
doi: 10.2147/CCID.S376096. eCollection 2023.

Alopecia Areata: Burden of Disease, Approach to Treatment, and Current Unmet Needs

Lina Alhanshali  1 , Michael G Buontempo  2 , Kristen I Lo Sicco  3 , Jerry Shapiro  3
Affiliations
Review

Alopecia Areata: Burden of Disease, Approach to Treatment, and Current Unmet Needs

Lina Alhanshali et al. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. .

Abstract

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune hair loss disorder with variations in distribution, duration, and severity. The disease is chronic and often follows an unpredictable course, frequently leading to stress and anxiety for those who suffer from it. Throughout the years more knowledge has been gained regarding pathogenesis, diagnostic tools, impact on quality of life, as well as treatment strategies for alopecia areata. However, challenges in treating and alleviating the burden of disease remain. In this article, we discuss updates regarding the pathogenesis and treatment of alopecia areata and highlight unmet needs of the condition, including a review of limitations of current treatments, accessibility to management strategies, and the need for disease awareness and advocacy.

Keywords: alopecia areata; disease burden; unmet needs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Lina Alhanshali, Michael G Buontempo, Kristen I Lo Sicco, and Jerry Shapiro contributed equally as co-first and co-senior, respectively. Dr. Shapiro is a consultant for Aclaris Therapeutics, Incyte, and Replicel Life Sciences. Drs. Shapiro and Lo Sicco have been investigators for Regen Lab and are investigators for Pfizer. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An approach to the treatment of Alopecia Areata.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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