Healio Dermatology compiles recent alopecia news
Healio Dermatology has published a list of the most recent alopecia news consisting of treatments and practices of which dermatologists should be aware.
A higher proportion of people that should not have lost their hair have experienced more hair loss over the past 3 years than ever before due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Atlantic even dubbed 2021 as “the year America’s hair fell out,” stating that the pandemic was a near-perfect mass hair-loss event.
With many still reeling from the effects of their hair loss, dermatologists are in a unique position to treat this condition. To continuing updating dermatologists’ armamentarium, Healio has created an easy-to-reference list of its most recent articles highlighting alopecia treatments and practices:
Platelet-rich plasma may outperform minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia treatment
A study found that platelet-rich plasma therapy may be more effective than minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia. After 12 weeks of treatment, 91.7% of patients treated with platelet-rich plasma and only 69.4% with minoxidil had negative hair pull tests. According to the researchers, dermatologists should investigate using platelet-rich plasma therapy alone or in conjunction with minoxidil on their patients with androgenetic alopecia. Read more.
Cryotherapy may lower disease relapse among patients with alopecia areata
Last month, Healio reported that patients with alopecia areata may have lower disease relapse rates if treated with cryotherapy rather than intralesional corticosteroid injections or topical steroids, according to a study. The study showed that 22% of patients treated with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections experienced disease relapse 3 months after treatment compared with only 16% treated with cryotherapy. Read more.
Increased baricitinib dose improves alopecia in early nonresponders
A pooled analysis of two clinical trials, BRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2, found patients with alopecia who did not respond to 2 mg of baricitinib had significant improvement with a 4 mg dose. After 36 weeks of treatment, 62.4% of 340 patients did not respond to 2 mg of baricitinib and were switched to 4 mg. After switching, 25.9% of those patients regained their hair enough that they displayed only 20% hair loss. Read more.
Adolescents with alopecia respond just as well as adults to ritlecitinib treatment
Efficacy and safety outcomes in adolescents treated with ritlecitinib for severe alopecia areata were consistent with adults in the same indication, according to a subgroup analysis of a phase 2b/3 trial. After 24 weeks of treatment, 17% to 28% of adolescents treated with ritlecitinib 30 mg and higher achieved the primary endpoint. Read more.
Q&A: How to conduct research, hair exams in women who wear hijab
Women who wear hijab are among the highest risk for developing traction alopecia, according to a study, yet they are highly underrepresented in alopecia studies. In this article, Healio spoke with Crystal Aguh, MD, associate professor of dermatology and director of the ethnic skin program and ethnic skin fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, about how dermatologists can overcome misconceptions and improve the patient experience for these women. Read more.
Reference:
- The year America’s hair fell out. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/11/pandemic-hair-loss-treatment-products/620696/. Published Nov. 12, 2021. Accessed Sept. 27, 2023.