Alopecia areata

Clinical picture

Alopecia areata is a form of non-scarring alopecia of autoimmune origin. Hair loss always occurs in a localized area of the body.

The size is generally small and round. In the affected area the skin looks normal, it is not inflamed or reddened, there are no scales either.

Evolution is unpredictable. Sometimes hair grows back by itself.

In cases where alopecia areata appears associated with celiac disease, treatment with a gluten-free diet usually allows for complete and permanent recovery, with hair growth lost.

The most frequent treatments are topical, such as minoxidil solutions to 2% or 5%, corticosteroid creams or shampoos.

Fig. 1 Alopecia areata treated with a 311 nm Gain-Switch
Sapphire laser. A) A 41-year-old man (patient 12) with 6-
month of alopecia areata before treatment B) After 13
treatment sessions, complete hair regrowth was observed. C)
56-year-old man with alopecia lasting 1 month before treatment. D) After 10 treatment sessions, excellent hair
new growth was observed. E) A 36-year-old woman with 2 months of alopecia areata before treatment. F) After 3
months with 6 treatment sessions, excellent hair regrowth was observed
. G) An 8-year-old girl with a duration of 6 months
alopecia areata before treatment. H) After 2 months with 11 sessions, complete hair regeneration was observed.

Laser treatment

The most effective treatment at present is the Laser treatment, which is attributed to the normalization of the immune response.

Alopecia areata has a autoimmune originThat is, the body's own defenses attack the root of the hair producing an inflammation that causes it to fall out and not grow again until the inflammation stops.

Stress can be a trigger for this inflammatory reaction. In Alopecia Areata, T cells attack the hair follicle.

A dense population of Lymphocytes infiltrate and produce antigenic activity, this mechanism being very similar to what happens in psoriasis.

Fig. 2 Alopecia areata treated with a 311 nm Gain-Switch
Sapphire laser. A) 27-year-old woman with
a 21 year history of alopecia
areata before treatment. B) The
regrowth of all hair was evident
after 12 treatment sessions (3
months). C) Full growth was achieved after 30 sessions (7
months)

Both in Psoriasis and Alopecia Areata T-cell mediated immune disorder occurs. As in Psoriasis, the Ultraviolet action of the Laser Pallas 311 nm short-band UVB produces an immunomodulatory effect, inducing apoptosis of T cells.

Hoogstra Medical Centers Caballito branch introduces
PALLAS the first solid state laser approved by the European community and by the FDA for the vitiligo treatment, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and leukoderma.

Pallas is the first 311nm UV-B solid state, Ti: Sapphire switched laser.

Cost of laser treatment for alopecia areata

The cost of the treatment is $3000 per session. The treatment is carried out by our dermatologist team in our medical center Caballito

Doubts and queries

If you have any medical questions, send an email to [email protected]  . In this mail Only medical consultations will be received. Inquiries about shifts, payments and administrative issues are not attended.

By phone on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following telephone numbers.

• 0054 11 4 901 6690
• 0054 11 4 904 3434
• 0054 11 4 904 0880

Bibliography

Treatment informative pdf for alopecia areata

• Messenger, AG, McKillop, J., Farrant, P., McDonagh, AJ, Sladden, M., Hughes, J., ... & Swale, VJ (2012). British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of alopecia areata 2012. British journal of dermatology, 166(5), 916-926.
• Darwin, E., Arora, H., Hirt, PA, Wikramanayake, TC, & Jimenez, JJ (2018). A review of monochromatic light devices for the treatment of alopecia areata. Lasers in medical science, 33(2), 435-444.
• Bae, JM, Lee, JH, Jung, YS, & Kim, GM (2017). The efficacy of a gain-switched 311-nm Titanium: Sapphire laser in the treatment of vitiligo: a pilot study of 14 Patients. JAMA dermatology, 153(10), 1055-1056.