Clinical Challenges and Evolving Strategies the Management of Alopecia Areata

Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of dermatologists. This education may also be of interest to pediatric dermatologists, dermatology advanced practice providers (NPs and PAs), and dermatology nurses as clinicians who are responsible for the primary diagnosis and treatment of patients with AA.

Program Overview

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that targets the hair follicles, typically causing hair loss on the scalp but also on other areas such as the beard and eyebrows. There are many complexities associated with the development and progression of alopecia areata and patients with alopecia may experience periods of hair regrowth and hair loss throughout the course of the disease. In the final activity in this series, you will hear from two patients with specific challenges related to the management of alopecia areata.

Alopecia Areata Resources

Medical Professionals Toolkit https://www.naaf.org/medical-professionals-toolkit
What You Should Know Brochure https://www.naaf.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/37728_naaf_wysk-6p_proof.pdf
Helping You Cope https://www.naaf.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/36529_naaf_coping-4p_teal01drk_proof.pdf 
A Parent’s Guide https://www.naaf.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/34393_naaf_parent-5p_proof.pdf
From a Child’s Point of View Brochure https://www.naaf.org/medical-professionals-toolkit
Medical Professionals Toolkit https://www.naaf.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/34393_naaf_childspov-6p_proof.pdf

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Identify the key characteristics that drive the development of alopecia areata, focusing specifically on immunologic pathways that differentiate the condition from other types of hair loss
• Assess the emotional and psychological burden associated with alopecia areata that may help quickly uncover core quality-of-life issues to be resolved by the patient and healthcare team during routine visits
• Review recent data related to current and emerging therapies, such as JAK/TEC inhibitors, for the treatment of alopecia areata