dermatologic disorders
Alopecia Areata
Introduction
Alopecia areata is typically sudden patchy nonscarring hair loss in people with no obvious skin or systemic disorder. Diagnosis is typically by inspection, although sometimes a skin biopsy is necessary. Treatment is with combinations of drugs applied topically, taken orally, or injected into the scalp and can include corticosteroids,anthralin,minoxidil, topical immunotherapy (ie diphenylcyclopropenone), or systemic immunosuppressants. (See also Alopecia .) The scalp and beard are most frequently affected, but any hairy area may be involved. Hair loss may affect most or all of the body (alopecia universalis). Alopecia areata is thought to be an autoimmune disorder affecting genetically susceptible people exposed to unclear environmental triggers. It occasionally coexists with autoimmune Vitiligo or 