Four genes are linked to alopecia areata, with two increasing risk and two offering protection.
January 2022 in “The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine” Higher IL-21 levels may help predict alopecia areata activity.
144 citations
,
November 2020 in “Frontiers in immunology” Targeting the IL-23/IL-17 pathway effectively treats several inflammatory skin diseases.
45 citations
,
December 2014 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are a key factor in causing hair loss in alopecia areata and could help differentiate it from other hair loss conditions.
24 citations
,
June 2018 in “Reviews in endocrine and metabolic disorders” Thyroid diseases may contribute to autoimmune skin diseases, and more research is needed on their relationship.
9 citations
,
July 2002 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” The document concludes that fexofenadine reduces inflammation in chronic hives, cholestyramine helps half of pregnant women with itchy rashes, and relaxing incisions are a good alternative in facial surgery for the elderly.
5 citations
,
June 2015 in “British Journal of Dermatology” A certain medication improved severe itching in a boy with liver and bowel disease by reducing histamine levels, suggesting a new treatment target.
3 citations
,
May 2024 in “Amino Acids” Disrupted cysteine metabolism may cause hair breakage in Alopecia Areata, suggesting potential treatments like N-acetylcysteine.
3 citations
,
September 2023 in “Frontiers in immunology” Chronic inflammatory skin diseases are caused by disrupted interactions between skin cells and immune cells.
October 2021 in “Dermatology Reports” Higher IL-17A levels indicate more severe alopecia areata.
January 2025 in “International Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprosy Sciences” Obesity worsens skin health and losing weight can improve skin conditions.
23 citations
,
February 2021 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” Betacoronaviruses, like COVID-19, may cause hormone system dysfunction and affect disease susceptibility and severity.
23 citations
,
January 2009 in “Veterinary Dermatology” The hepatitis B vaccine did not cause hair loss in the tested mice.
1 citations
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April 2010 in “Expert Review of Dermatology” The document concludes that early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing rare hair loss disorders and that more research is needed to improve treatment strategies.
29 citations
,
February 2016 in “International Journal of Dermatology” People with lichen planus are more likely to have dyslipidemia, especially higher triglyceride levels.
11 citations
,
June 2011 in “Expert Review of Dermatology” Skin reactions to drugs are common and can be deadly, usually requiring stopping the drug and may be better prevented with genetic testing in the future.
9 citations
,
May 2005 in “Expert Review of Clinical Immunology” Blocking interferon-gamma might help treat various autoimmune diseases.
5 citations
,
February 2022 in “Frontiers in physiology” Hair graying is influenced by factors like nerves, fat cells, and immune cells, not just hair follicles.
3 citations
,
May 2023 in “Frontiers in immunology” Faulty inflammasome activation may lead to autoimmune skin diseases and could be a target for new treatments.
29 citations
,
January 2004 in “Experimental Dermatology” Topical anthralin helped regrow hair in mice with a condition similar to human alopecia.
176 citations
,
August 2015 in “The journal of allergy and clinical immunology/Journal of allergy and clinical immunology/The journal of allergy and clinical immunology” Alopecia areata involves immune activation in the scalp, suggesting treatments targeting TH1, TH2, and IL-23 pathways.
32 citations
,
December 2018 in “Cytokine” Type I interferons play a key role in the development of various skin diseases.
13 citations
,
April 2016 in “Journal of Dermatology” 308-nm excimer light therapy helped over a third of treatment-resistant alopecia universalis patients regrow most of their hair.
12 citations
,
May 2017 in “Pharmacology & therapeutics” Targeting immune tolerance issues in Alopecia Areata could restore hair growth and maintain remission.
7 citations
,
April 2021 in “Dermatology and Therapy” H-1 antihistamines may help with various skin conditions, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.
6 citations
,
June 2011 in “British Journal of Dermatology” People with alopecia areata have higher levels of RBP4 protein and antibodies against it.
4 citations
,
July 2013 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” Pregnancy right after giving birth in mice lacking IL-10 causes milk that leads to liver issues and hair loss in their babies.
1 citations
,
October 2025 in “Nano Research” A new microneedle patch effectively treats atopic dermatitis by reducing skin stress and restoring immune balance.
1 citations
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September 2010 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” The meeting highlighted major advances in skin research, including new findings on skin microbes, genetic links to skin diseases, and improved treatments for various conditions.
December 2024 in “Cureus” Baricitinib treatment for alopecia universalis can cause hair regrowth with unexpected whitening.