Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease where the immune system incorrectly targets the hair follicles. Most people suffering from alopecia areata will notice coin shaped areas of hair loss. For some the condition can progress to alopecia totalis where there is a loss of all of the hair on the scalp or alopecia universalis where all body hair is also lost.
Alopecia areata is a form of hair loss that should be treated by a dermatologist. Treatment options depend on the extent of scalp involvement. Topical or injected steroid offer benefit for more limited cases, while more extensive involvement can require immunosuppressive therapy.
Usually, hair transplantation is not a treatment option for those suffering from alopecia areata as the immune system attacks the transplanted hair in the same way.
Alopecia areata presents as a single patch of hair loss that usually resolves within 6 months, or multiple patches that resolve within 12 months in two-thirds of cases. Recurrent patches of hair loss or incidences of alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis account for the remaining third of cases.
Recent years have seen significant improvement in our understanding of how to treat alopecia areata. In 2022 the US FDA approved a drug for the systemic treatment of alopecia areata for the first time.
Much more work, however, is required to understand more about the condition’s causes, impact and the safety of the treatments we use. Dr. Wall and the team at HRBR have been involved in all aspects of this research through;
- Our work with The Charles Institute of Dermatology at UCD researching the triggers of alopecia areata.
- Pioneering the development and recruitment for a global registry (Global Registry of Alopecia Areata Disease Severity and Treatment Safety “GRASS”) that collects information regarding how alopecia areata affects patients, and how safe and effective new and existing therapies are. This registry has been developed by an Irish registry charity (National and International Skin Registry solutions; NISR. NISR Solutions Our Registries) and the Australasian Hair and Wool Research society Australasian Hair & Wool Research Society – The Australasian Hair and Wool Research Society aims to foster hair science through communication amongst Australian and New Zealand hair researchers, dermatologists and wool biologists. (ahwrs.org.au) and is collecting information from Australia, Ireland and Italy, with further countries preparing to contribute to the GRASS International network.
Contact Us
To arrange an appointment at HRBR’s dermatology clinic to discuss your hair loss concerns or for any further information please contact us on +353 1 209 1000 or info@hrbr.ie.
About the Author
Dr Dmitri Wall
Medical Director, Consultant Dermatologist and Hair Transplant Surgeon
MB BCh BAO RCP
Dr Dmitri Wall is Medical Director at Hair Restoration Blackrock, a consultant Dermatologist, Hair Transplant Surgeon (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery member) and hair researcher. He has received internationally recognised subspecialist training in hair and scalp disorders, is an active publisher of research papers in international journals, and an Associate Professor in the University College Dublin, School of Medicine.
