Alopecia Areata: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical, Immunologic, and Genetic Perspectives

Alopecia Areata (AA) is an autoimmune hair follicle disease affecting up to 2% of the population, characterized by non-scarring hair loss. It results from the immune system mistakenly targeting hair follicles, disrupting their immune privilege. Diagnosis is based on clinical findings, dermoscopy, and histopathological methods. Genetic studies have linked susceptibility loci to hair follicle cycle signaling pathways, highlighting the disease's complexity. While no definitive treatment exists, current approaches aim to suppress the disease, and ongoing research into its immunological and molecular mechanisms may lead to new therapies.