Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Management of Alopecia Areata: An Asia-Pacific Modified Delphi Expert Panel Recommendations

    February 2026 in “ International Journal of Dermatology ”
    Rodney D. Sinclair, Chao‐Chun Yang, Wen‐Hung Chung, Rachita Dhurat, Anil Ganjoo, Saranya Khunkhet, Jinran Lin, Anchala Parthasaradhi, Hyun‐Tae Shin, Hyunju Jin, Poonkiat Suchonwanit, Kian Teo Tan, Jyh Jong Tang, Wenyu Wu, Felix Boon‐Bin Yap, Leona C. Y. Yip, Angeline Yong, Cheng Zhou
    TLDR Experts recommend specific treatments for alopecia areata based on age and severity, emphasizing the need for better treatments and acknowledging its psychological impact.
    A panel of 18 dermatologists from the Asia-Pacific region developed a consensus on diagnosing and managing alopecia areata (AA) using a Delphi-based process. The consensus emphasizes the clinical heterogeneity of AA and its impact on quality of life, recommending trichoscopy for diagnosis and monitoring. Treatment includes topical corticosteroids for children under 12, and for those aged 12 and above, topical and intralesional corticosteroids for mild-to-moderate AA, with Janus kinase inhibitors and systemic corticosteroids for moderate-to-severe AA. The panel highlights the need for novel treatments with better safety profiles and acknowledges the psychological burden associated with AA. The Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score is recommended for evaluation, and the consensus aims to standardize AA management across diverse healthcare settings to improve patient outcomes. The study was funded by Pfizer, with disclosed conflicts of interest for several authors.
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