Alopecia areata
Alopecia Areata Research
Indian J Dermatol. 2008; 53(2): 70–74. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.41650 PMCID: PMC2763714
ALOPECIA AREATA AND AUTOIMMUNITY: A CLINICAL STUDY
Emy Abi Thomas and R S Kadyan
Abstract
Alopecia areata (AA) frequently occur in association with other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disorders, anemias and other skin disorders with autoimmune etiology. Despite numerous studies related to individual disease associations in alopecia areata, there is paucity of literature regarding comprehensive studies on concomitant cutaneous and systemic diseases. The present study has been designed to determine if there is a significant association between alopecia areata and other autoimmune diseases. This study covers 71 patients with the diagnosis of alopecia areata as the case group and 71 patients with no evidence of alopecia areata as the control group. Among the cutaneous diseases associated with AA, atopic dermatitis (AD) showed maximum frequency with an O/E ratio of 2.5, which indicates that it is two to three times more common in patients with alopecia areata. In our study, thyroid disorders showed the highest frequency with on O/E ratio of 3.2 and a P value of 0.01, which is statistically highly significant. Among the thyroid disorders, hypothyroidism was the most frequent association (14.1%) in our study. Since systemic involvement is not infrequent in patients with alopecia areata, it is imperative to screen these patients for associated disorders, particularly atopy, thyroid diseases, anemias and other autoimmune disorders, especially if alopecia areata is chronic, recurrent and extensive.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763714/
ALOPECIA AREATA AND AUTOIMMUNITY: A CLINICAL STUDY
Emy Abi Thomas and R S Kadyan
Abstract
Alopecia areata (AA) frequently occur in association with other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disorders, anemias and other skin disorders with autoimmune etiology. Despite numerous studies related to individual disease associations in alopecia areata, there is paucity of literature regarding comprehensive studies on concomitant cutaneous and systemic diseases. The present study has been designed to determine if there is a significant association between alopecia areata and other autoimmune diseases. This study covers 71 patients with the diagnosis of alopecia areata as the case group and 71 patients with no evidence of alopecia areata as the control group. Among the cutaneous diseases associated with AA, atopic dermatitis (AD) showed maximum frequency with an O/E ratio of 2.5, which indicates that it is two to three times more common in patients with alopecia areata. In our study, thyroid disorders showed the highest frequency with on O/E ratio of 3.2 and a P value of 0.01, which is statistically highly significant. Among the thyroid disorders, hypothyroidism was the most frequent association (14.1%) in our study. Since systemic involvement is not infrequent in patients with alopecia areata, it is imperative to screen these patients for associated disorders, particularly atopy, thyroid diseases, anemias and other autoimmune disorders, especially if alopecia areata is chronic, recurrent and extensive.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763714/
ISRN Dermatology
Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 304370, 4 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/304370
Prevalence of Psychological Disorders in Patients with Alopecia Areata in Comparison with Normal Subjects
Shahin Aghaei,1 Nasrin Saki,1,2 Ehsan Daneshmand,2 and Bahare Kardeh21Dermatology Department, Molecular Dermatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134844119, Iran
Abstract
Alopecia areata is a chronic disease with a great impact on the patient’s quality of life. In this study we reviewed the frequency of psychological disorders in patients with alopecia areata in comparison to a control group. We enrolled 40 patients with alopecia areata and a 40-volunteer random age-sex matched control group. The study is based on anxiety and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Analytical evaluation was done by Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, and -tests. There was a significant difference between the case and control group regarding the prevalence of depression ( value = 0.008), anxiety ( value = 0.003), and neuroticism ( value = 0.05). There was no significant differences regarding extraversion ( value = 0.249), psychosis ( value = 0.147), and lying ( value = 0.899) between the two groups. In alopecia areata involving the head, there was a significant relation only between neuroticism ( value = 0.045) and lying ( value = 0.005). The facial involvement had a significant relation with depression ( value = 0.020), anxiety ( value = 0.019), and neuroticism ( value = 0.029). The frequency of psychological disorders in the case group is significantly greater than the control group.
1. IntroductionPsychosomatic (psychophysiological) medicine has been considered as a particular field of psychology and psychiatry for over 50 years. The history of this branch of medicine is very closely related with the theory of unity of body and mind. Disorders of mind and body and how these two parts of human beings function together is reflected in “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM),” a criterion for classification of mental disorders [1].
Skin-related mental disorders include a wide range of dermal pathologies which present with psychological signs or stresses. In spite of the evidence on the interactions between nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, which have made the understanding of psychocutaneous diseases easier, further investigations are still required [2]. Skin, as a tangible and visible part of the body, can have a magnificent effect on psychological status which is continuously involved in socialization processes from childhood to adulthood [3, 4].
Alopecia areata is a common chronic disease of skin with sudden onset loss of hair in a clear circular area [5]. The role of psychological factors in extension of alopecia areata has also been discussed. Social and familial problems and uncontrollable events have more influences on these patients than on normal society [6] and most of them experience psychological problems in long-term such as depression, anxiety, and paranoid disorders [6–10]. Also, studies have shown that the low quality of life in these patients has significant relation with depression [11]. It seems that the patients with alopecia areata are mainly depressed, worried, and hysteric, present with higher rates of hypochondriasis tendency, and experience frequent conflicts in daily interactions with other people [12]. Tendency to suicide is high in these patients [13]. Studies have shown that there is a significant relation between loss of hair and stress, stress intensity, and stressful events [14]. There is evidence that besides the medical therapies, hypnotherapy is also effective in treatment of alopecia areata [15, 16].
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.dermatology/2014/304370/
Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 304370, 4 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/304370
Prevalence of Psychological Disorders in Patients with Alopecia Areata in Comparison with Normal Subjects
Shahin Aghaei,1 Nasrin Saki,1,2 Ehsan Daneshmand,2 and Bahare Kardeh21Dermatology Department, Molecular Dermatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134844119, Iran
Abstract
Alopecia areata is a chronic disease with a great impact on the patient’s quality of life. In this study we reviewed the frequency of psychological disorders in patients with alopecia areata in comparison to a control group. We enrolled 40 patients with alopecia areata and a 40-volunteer random age-sex matched control group. The study is based on anxiety and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Analytical evaluation was done by Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, and -tests. There was a significant difference between the case and control group regarding the prevalence of depression ( value = 0.008), anxiety ( value = 0.003), and neuroticism ( value = 0.05). There was no significant differences regarding extraversion ( value = 0.249), psychosis ( value = 0.147), and lying ( value = 0.899) between the two groups. In alopecia areata involving the head, there was a significant relation only between neuroticism ( value = 0.045) and lying ( value = 0.005). The facial involvement had a significant relation with depression ( value = 0.020), anxiety ( value = 0.019), and neuroticism ( value = 0.029). The frequency of psychological disorders in the case group is significantly greater than the control group.
1. IntroductionPsychosomatic (psychophysiological) medicine has been considered as a particular field of psychology and psychiatry for over 50 years. The history of this branch of medicine is very closely related with the theory of unity of body and mind. Disorders of mind and body and how these two parts of human beings function together is reflected in “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM),” a criterion for classification of mental disorders [1].
Skin-related mental disorders include a wide range of dermal pathologies which present with psychological signs or stresses. In spite of the evidence on the interactions between nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, which have made the understanding of psychocutaneous diseases easier, further investigations are still required [2]. Skin, as a tangible and visible part of the body, can have a magnificent effect on psychological status which is continuously involved in socialization processes from childhood to adulthood [3, 4].
Alopecia areata is a common chronic disease of skin with sudden onset loss of hair in a clear circular area [5]. The role of psychological factors in extension of alopecia areata has also been discussed. Social and familial problems and uncontrollable events have more influences on these patients than on normal society [6] and most of them experience psychological problems in long-term such as depression, anxiety, and paranoid disorders [6–10]. Also, studies have shown that the low quality of life in these patients has significant relation with depression [11]. It seems that the patients with alopecia areata are mainly depressed, worried, and hysteric, present with higher rates of hypochondriasis tendency, and experience frequent conflicts in daily interactions with other people [12]. Tendency to suicide is high in these patients [13]. Studies have shown that there is a significant relation between loss of hair and stress, stress intensity, and stressful events [14]. There is evidence that besides the medical therapies, hypnotherapy is also effective in treatment of alopecia areata [15, 16].
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.dermatology/2014/304370/
2005 May;38(2):89-97. Epub 2005 Mar 19.
The hair growth promoting effect of Asiasari radix extract and its molecular regulation.
Rho SS1, Park SJ, Hwang SL, Lee MH, Kim CD, Lee IH, Chang SY, Rang MJ.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hair loss is a distressing condition for an increasing number of men and women. It is of great importance; therefore, to develop new therapies for the treatment of hair loss.
OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of 45 plant extracts that have been traditionally used for treating hair loss in oriental medicine in order to identify potential stimulants of hair growth.
METHODS: Six-week-old female C57BL/6 and C3H mice were used for evaluating the hair growth-promoting effects of the plant extracts. Topical application onto the backs of the C57BL/6 and C3H mice was performed daily for 30 days and 45 days, respectively. Protein synthesis was measured by the cysteine uptake assay, using cultured murine vibrissae follicles. Proliferation of the immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and human dermal papilla (DP) cells was evaluated by the MTT and thymidine incorporation assays. The mRNA levels of several growth factors that have been implicated in hair growth control were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
RESULTS: Among the tested plant extracts, the extract of Asiasari radix showed the most potent hair growth stimulation in C57BL/6 and C3H mice experiments. In addition, this extract markedly increased the protein synthesis in vibrissae follicle cultures and the proliferation of both HaCaT and human DP cells in vitro. Moreover, the A. radix extract induced the expression of VEGF in human DP cells that were cultured in vitro.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the A. radix extract has hair growth-promoting potential, and that this effect may be due to its regulatory effects on both cell growth and growth factor gene expression.
PMID: 15862941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15862941
The hair growth promoting effect of Asiasari radix extract and its molecular regulation.
Rho SS1, Park SJ, Hwang SL, Lee MH, Kim CD, Lee IH, Chang SY, Rang MJ.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hair loss is a distressing condition for an increasing number of men and women. It is of great importance; therefore, to develop new therapies for the treatment of hair loss.
OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of 45 plant extracts that have been traditionally used for treating hair loss in oriental medicine in order to identify potential stimulants of hair growth.
METHODS: Six-week-old female C57BL/6 and C3H mice were used for evaluating the hair growth-promoting effects of the plant extracts. Topical application onto the backs of the C57BL/6 and C3H mice was performed daily for 30 days and 45 days, respectively. Protein synthesis was measured by the cysteine uptake assay, using cultured murine vibrissae follicles. Proliferation of the immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and human dermal papilla (DP) cells was evaluated by the MTT and thymidine incorporation assays. The mRNA levels of several growth factors that have been implicated in hair growth control were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
RESULTS: Among the tested plant extracts, the extract of Asiasari radix showed the most potent hair growth stimulation in C57BL/6 and C3H mice experiments. In addition, this extract markedly increased the protein synthesis in vibrissae follicle cultures and the proliferation of both HaCaT and human DP cells in vitro. Moreover, the A. radix extract induced the expression of VEGF in human DP cells that were cultured in vitro.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the A. radix extract has hair growth-promoting potential, and that this effect may be due to its regulatory effects on both cell growth and growth factor gene expression.
PMID: 15862941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15862941
Invest Dermatol. 1999 Mar;112(3):310-6.
Procyanidin oligomers selectively and intensively promote proliferation of mouse hair epithelial cells in vitro and activate hair follicle growth in vivo.
Takahashi T1, Kamiya T, Hasegawa A, Yokoo Y.Author information
- 1Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo, Ibaraki, Japan.
We have previously reported that proanthocyanidins extracted from grape seeds possess growth-promoting activity toward murine hair epithelial cells in vitro and stimulate anagen induction in hair cycle progression in vivo. This report constitutes a comparison of the growth-promoting activity of procyanidin oligomers and the target cells of procyanidins in the skin. Results show that procyanidin dimer and trimer exhibit higher growth-promoting activity than the monomer. The maximum growth-promoting activity for hair epithelial cells with procyanidin B-2, an epicatechin dimer, reached about 300% (30 microM) relative to controls (= 100%) in a 5 d culture. Optimum concentration of procyanidin C-1, an epicatechin trimer, was lower than that of procyanidin B-2; the maximum growth-promoting activity of procyanidin C-1 was about 220% (3 microM). No other flavonoid compounds examined exhibit higher proliferative activities than the procyanidins. In skin constituent cells, only epithelial cells such as hair keratinocytes or epidermal keratinocytes respond to procyanidin oligomers. Topical application of 1% procyanidin oligomers on shaven C3H mice in the telogen phase led to significant hair regeneration [procyanidin B-2, 69.6% +/- 21.8% (mean +/- SD); procyanidin B-3, 80.9% +/- 13.0%; procyanidin C-1, 78.3% +/- 7.6%] on the basis of the shaven area; application of vehicle only led to regeneration of 41.7% (SD = 16.3%). In this paper, we demonstrate the hair-growing activity of procyanidin oligomers both in vitro and in vivo, and their potential for use as agents to induce hair growth.
PMID: 10084307 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10084307
Eur J Med Res. 2001 Jul 30;6(7):306-8.
Therapeutic and prophylactic effects of crude honey on chronic seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.
Al-Waili NS1.Author information
has antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidants activities and has high nutrient value. In this study we investigated the potential use of topical application of crude honey in the management of seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. Thirty patients with chronic seborrheic dermatitis of scalp, face and front of chest were entered for study. Twenty patients were males and 10 were females, their ages ranged between 15 and 60 years. The patients had scaling, itching and hair loss. The lesions were scaling macules, papules and dry white plaques with crust and fissures. The patients were asked to apply diluted crude honey (90% honey diluted in warm water) every other day on the lesions with gentle rubbing for 2-3 mins. Honey was left for 3 hr before gentle rinsing with warm water. The patients were followed daily for itching, scaling, hair loss and the lesions were examined. Treatment was continued for 4 weeks. The improved patients were included in a prophylactic phase, lasting six months. Half patients were treated with the topical honey once weekly and the other half served as control. All the patients responded markedly with application of honey. Itching was relieved and scaling was disappeared within one week. Skin lesions were healed and disappeared completely within 2 weeks. In addition, patients showed subjective improvement in hair loss. None of the patients ( 15 patients) treated with honey application once weekly for six months showed relapse while the 12/15 patients who had no prophylactic treatment with honey experienced a relapse of the lesions 2-4 months after stopping treatment. It might be concluded that crude honey could markedly improve seborrheic dermatitis and associated hair loss and prevent relapse when applied weekly.
PMID: 11485891 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11485891
Therapeutic and prophylactic effects of crude honey on chronic seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.
Al-Waili NS1.Author information
- 1Dubai Specialised Medical Centre and Medical Research Labs, P.O.Box 19964, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. [email protected]
has antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidants activities and has high nutrient value. In this study we investigated the potential use of topical application of crude honey in the management of seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. Thirty patients with chronic seborrheic dermatitis of scalp, face and front of chest were entered for study. Twenty patients were males and 10 were females, their ages ranged between 15 and 60 years. The patients had scaling, itching and hair loss. The lesions were scaling macules, papules and dry white plaques with crust and fissures. The patients were asked to apply diluted crude honey (90% honey diluted in warm water) every other day on the lesions with gentle rubbing for 2-3 mins. Honey was left for 3 hr before gentle rinsing with warm water. The patients were followed daily for itching, scaling, hair loss and the lesions were examined. Treatment was continued for 4 weeks. The improved patients were included in a prophylactic phase, lasting six months. Half patients were treated with the topical honey once weekly and the other half served as control. All the patients responded markedly with application of honey. Itching was relieved and scaling was disappeared within one week. Skin lesions were healed and disappeared completely within 2 weeks. In addition, patients showed subjective improvement in hair loss. None of the patients ( 15 patients) treated with honey application once weekly for six months showed relapse while the 12/15 patients who had no prophylactic treatment with honey experienced a relapse of the lesions 2-4 months after stopping treatment. It might be concluded that crude honey could markedly improve seborrheic dermatitis and associated hair loss and prevent relapse when applied weekly.
PMID: 11485891 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11485891