Alopecia totalis explained

Alopecia totalis is the loss of all hair on the head and face. Its causes are unclear, but believed to be autoimmune. Research suggests there may be a genetic component linked to developing alopecia totalis; the presence of DRB1*0401 and DQB1*0301, both of which are human leukocyte antigens (HLA), were found to be associated with long-standing alopecia totalis.^[1]

Treatment

Methotrexate and corticosteroids are proposed treatments.^[2]

Scalp cooling has specifically been used to prevent alopecia in docetaxel chemotherapy,^[3] although it has been found prophylactic in other regimens as well.^{[4] [5] [6]} Treatment effects may take time to resolve, with one study showing breast cancer survivors wearing wigs up to 2 years after chemotherapy.^[7]

See also

• Alopecia areata
• Alopecia universalis

Notes and References

1. Colombe. Beth W.. Lou. Calvin D.. Price. Vera H.. December 1999. The Genetic Basis of Alopecia Areata: HLA Associations with Patchy Alopecia Areata Versus Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings. 4. 3. 216–219. 10.1038/sj.jidsp.5640214. 10674369 . 1087-0024. free.
2. 10.1016/j.jaad.2005.09.010 . The use of methtrexate alone or in combination with low doses of oral corticosteroids in the treatment of alopecia totalis or universalis . 2006 . Joly . Pascal . Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology . 55 . 4 . 632–6 . 17010743.
3. Hurk . C. J. G. . Breed . W. P. M. . Nortier . J. W. R. . 10.1007/s00520-012-1465-0 . Short post-infusion scalp cooling time in the prevention of docetaxel-induced alopecia . Supportive Care in Cancer . 20 . 12 . 3255–3260 . 2012 . 22539051 . 1282047 .
4. Lemieux . J. . Reducing chemotherapy-induced alopecia with scalp cooling . Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology . 10 . 10 . 681–682 . 2012 . 23187775.
5. Van Den Hurk . C. J. . Peerbooms . M. . Van De Poll-Franse . L. V. . Nortier . J. W. . Coebergh . J. W. W. . Breed . W. P. . 10.3109/0284186X.2012.658966 . Scalp cooling for hair preservation and associated characteristics in 1411 chemotherapy patients - Results of the Dutch Scalp Cooling Registry . Acta Oncologica . 51 . 4 . 497–504 . 2012 . 22304489 . 26709009 .
6. Yeager . C. E. . Olsen . E. A. . 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2011.01430.x . Treatment of chemotherapy-induced alopecia . Dermatologic Therapy . 24 . 4 . 432–442 . 2011 . 21910801 . 45148677 .
7. Oshima . Y. . Watanabe . T. . Nakagawa . S. . Endo . A. . Shiga . C. . A questionnaire survey about hair loss after chemotherapy for breast cancer . Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy . 39 . 9 . 1375–1378 . 2012 . 22996772.