Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease causing non-scarring hair loss. In many cases, regrowth of hair can be expected either with or without treatment. In vitiligo, which has similarities in pathogenesis with AA, repigmentation patterns have been classified into 5 distinct patterns: diffuse, marginal, perifollicular, combined, and medium-spotted. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

An association between alopecia areata (AA) and other autoimmune diseases has been reported. We investigated the associations between AA and overt autoimmune thyroid diseases. A nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study was performed using the Korea National Health Insurance claims database. We defined patients with AA as those whose records showed at least four physician contacts in which AA, alopecia totalis (AT) or alopecia universalis (AU) was the principal diagnosis. We also established an age- and sex-matched control group without AA. In a subgroup analysis, patients with AT or AU were classified into the severe AA group, and the remainder were classified into the mild to moderate AA group. Patients with AA were at an increased risk of Graves' disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.415; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.317-1.520) and Hashimoto thyroiditis (OR, 1.157; 95% CI, 1.081-1.237), and the associations were stronger in the severe AA group (Graves' disease: OR, 1.714; 95% CI, 1.387-2.118; Hashimoto thyroiditis: OR, 1.398; 95% CI, 1.137-1.719). In conclusion, AA was significantly associated with overt autoimmune thyroid diseases. Furthermore, the risk was much higher in the severe AA group.

Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic pruritic inflammatory skin disorder, characterized by an abnormal skin barrier, immune dysfunction, and an altered skin microbiome. Atopic dermatitis may be seen in conjunction with a variety of other skin disorders due to the complex pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, involving genetic and environmental factors that are associated with immune dysfunction, barrier defects, and altered skin microbiomes. Skin disorders associated with atopic dermatitis include diseases sharing similar genetic origins like ichthyosis vulgaris, infectious diseases such as impetigo, and eczema herpeticum, in addition to the cutaneous autoimmune diseases, alopecia areata, and vitiligo. Atopic dermatitis is also often linked to such benign conditions as pityriasis alba and keratosis pilaris. This review discusses the cutaneous comorbidities of atopic dermatitis and their relationship via their occurrence in conjunction with atopic dermatitis.

Cutaneous inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, vitiligo, and connective tissue diseases often remain a challenge to treat. Although there is an in-depth understanding of the clinical presentation of these diseases, much less is known regarding the pathophysiology. This has limited the effective treatment options for patients. A more detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of each disease will lead to newer targeted medications with less morbidity. Though there are different pathways involved in these diseases, the Janus Kinase (JAK)-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription proteins (STAT) signaling pathway is common to them all. Therefore, this review article endeavors to substantiate the immunopathology and clinical utility of the JAK inhibitors as treatments for different chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin.

Given substantial advances in hair regrowth research and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) science, a review of currently used systems and results is informative for physicians using a biologics approach to hair restoration. Overall positive clinical response to the use of PRP in androgenetic and alopecia areata patients is observed. The effects on hair density, count, and thickness were demonstrated through multiple clinical trials. Use as an adjunct to hair transplantation and with other technologies is also described. When compared with traditional oral/topical treatments, the lack of identifiable complications and convenience of treatment provide a positive outlook for future use and investigation.

The functional aspect of scalp hair is not only to protect from solar radiation and heat/cold exposure but also to contribute to one's appearance and personality. Progressive hair loss has a cosmetic and social impact. Hair undergoes three stages of hair cycle: the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases. Through cyclical loss and new-hair growth, the number of hairs remains relatively constant. A variety of factors, such as hormones, nutritional status, and exposure to radiations, environmental toxicants, and medications, may affect hair growth. Androgens are the most important of these factors that cause androgenic alopecia. Other forms of hair loss include immunogenic hair loss, that is, alopecia areata. Although a number of therapies, such as finasteride and minoxidil, are approved medications, and a few others (e.g., tofacitinib) are in progress, a wide variety of structurally diverse classes of phytochemicals, including those present in ginseng, have demonstrated hair growth-promoting effects in a large number of preclinical studies. The purpose of this review is to focus on the potential of ginseng and its metabolites on the prevention of hair loss and its underlying mechanisms.