Clinical Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Outcomes of Chinese Patients With Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Observational Study

July 2026 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Youyu Sheng, Zhibing Qiu, Jun Zhao, Lijuan Zhou, Ying Miao, Bilian Zhao, Jinnan Li, Guanshen Dou, Wenyu Wu, Qinping Yang

alopecia areata immunomodulatory drugs nutritional supplements Dermatology Life Quality Index AA

TLDR Current treatments for alopecia areata in Chinese patients often lead to recovery with recurrence, showing a need for better management.

This retrospective observational study evaluated 70 Chinese patients with alopecia areata (AA) treated at Huashan Hospital between 2018 and 2024. The study found that AA significantly impairs patients' quality of life, with a mean Dermatology Life Quality Index score of 16.5. Among the patients, 29 had mild-to-moderate AA, while 41 had severe AA. The most common treatment involved a combination of immunomodulatory drugs and nutritional supplements. Despite treatment, 72.9% of patients experienced recovery with recurrence, indicating that current therapies do not achieve optimal hair regrowth or reduce recurrence, highlighting unmet needs in AA management.

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research Efficacy and Safety of Compound Glycyrrhizin in Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Younger patients with severe alopecia areata often have nail problems.

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The analysis found that alopecia areata, a hair loss condition, is not very common in Australia, affecting about 0.13% of people, with new cases most often seen in males aged 19 to 34 years.

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Most people with alopecia areata have nail changes, which are common but don't greatly affect their quality of life.

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