Scalp Bacterial Shift in Alopecia Areata

April 2019 in “ PloS one ”

Daniela Pinto, Elisabetta Sorbellini, Barbara Mora, Mariangela Rucco, Giammaria Giuliani, Fabio Rinaldi

Alopecia areata Propionibacterium acnes Staphylococcus epidermidis Staphylococcus aureus microbial shift hair disorders AA P. acnes S. epidermidis S. aureus

TLDR Alopecia areata patients have more Propionibacterium acnes and less Staphylococcus epidermidis on their scalps.

The study "Scalp bacterial shift in Alopecia areata" found significant differences in the scalp microbiome between Alopecia areata (AA) patients and healthy controls. Specifically, AA patients had an increased abundance of Propionibacterium acnes and a decreased abundance of Staphylococcus epidermidis, while Staphylococcus aureus levels remained unchanged. The study, which included 15 AA patients and 15 healthy individuals, suggested that these microbial shifts could play a role in the pathogenesis of AA, potentially offering new avenues for treatment. The findings highlighted the need for further research into the role of microbial communities in hair disorders.

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