Exploring the Association Between Alopecia Areata and Thyroid Dysfunction: A Review

The review highlights a significant association between alopecia areata (AA) and autoimmune thyroid diseases, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease, due to shared immunological mechanisms and genetic predispositions. It suggests that routine thyroid function testing and autoantibody screening could be beneficial for patients with extensive, recurrent, or early-onset AA. The review emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms and to optimize screening strategies. It also notes that treating thyroid dysfunction may improve systemic health but does not necessarily reverse AA.