title: [Alopecia areata: update on therapy].
abstract: The management of patients with alopecia areata is obviously not restricted to the prescription of a treatment inducing hair growth. It requires thorough exploration (history of hair loss, treatments and concomitant pathologies), detailed clinical examination of the integument and palpation of the thyroid. The patient must, systematically, be given a simple explanation of his/her pathology, thus avoiding any feelings of mystery, hopelessness and guilt and hence paradoxically turning alopecia into "just another disease", even if flares are unpredictable and cannot always be treated. Innovations over the past few years have not met dermatologist's expectations: in particular immunosuppressors administered locally have not shown efficacy in human, as opposed to animal models of alopecia areata. Moreover, we must remain critical and rigorous with regard to "false" innovations: several recent publications are, methodologically, open to criticism. Older products provide clear descriptions of their indications and use, and relatively standardize the therapeutic approach to alopecia. Some of them lead to hair growth on the treated area: localized immuno-therapy that in certain cases induces hair growth where other treatments have failed. PUVA-therapy, however, because of frequent relapses on withdrawal and the characteristic recurrence of alopecia, rapidly leads to the use of high cumulative doses; balneo-PUVA therapy is effective with lower doses (PUVA-turban). Recently, UVB TL01 has shown efficacy in anecdotal studies. Local corticosteroids; notably injectable and anthralin, an old treatment which remains a useful therapeutic approach in alopecia areata plaques and in the ophiasic forms in children and adults. Finally, among the available treatment arms, systemic corticosteroids still have a place in recent extended forms: although still under experimentation, the bolus appears efficient during the primary episodes of alopecia areata, when administered within the first three months
authors.affiliation: Centre de Santé Sabouraud, 2, place du Docteur-Alfred-Fournier, 75010 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Ph
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Assouly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents