title: Alopecia areata.
abstract: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder characterized by transient, non-scarring hair loss and preservation of the hair follicle. Hair loss can take many forms ranging from loss in well-defined patches to diffuse or total hair loss, which can affect all hair-bearing sites. Patchy alopecia areata affecting the scalp is the most common type. Alopecia areata affects nearly 2% of the general population at some point during their lifetime. Skin biopsies of affected skin show a lymphocytic infiltrate in and around the bulb or the lower part of the hair follicle in the anagen (hair growth) phase. A breakdown of immune privilege of the hair follicle is thought to be an important driver of alopecia areata. Genetic studies in patients and mouse models have shown that alopecia areata is a complex, polygenic disease. Several genetic susceptibility loci were identified to be associated with signalling pathways that are important to hair follicle cycling and development. Alopecia areata is usually diagnosed based on clinical manifestations, but dermoscopy and histopathology can be helpful. Alopecia areata is difficult to manage medically, but recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms have revealed new treatments and the possibility of remission in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Resource Sciences, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: C Herbert
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Lloyd E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Messenger
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology and Genetics &Development, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Christiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.|Department of Research and Development, The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609-1500, USA.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sundberg
mesh_terms: D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006197:Hair / Q000473:pathology; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications