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Alopecia Areata: An Update on Treatment Options for Children

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Abstract

Pediatric alopecia areata is a spectrum of autoimmune non-scarring alopecia in which some patients lose small patches of hair from their scalp but others lose more or all of the hair from the scalp and body, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Few studies have looked at therapies for this disorder in children, so much of the data are derived from adult literature and describe off-label use of medication. Generally, topical therapies consisting of topical steroids and topical irritating compounds/contact sensitizers are used. Systemic therapies that block the immune system, including Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, have also been used in this disease. This paper reviews the data on therapy for alopecia areata in pediatric patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Lauren Peloquin

  2. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of Pennsylvania, Perlman School of Medicine, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Wood Center Room 3335, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Leslie Castelo-Soccio

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  1. Lauren Peloquin
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Correspondence to Leslie Castelo-Soccio.

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Lauren Peloquin and Leslie Castelo-Soccio have no conflicts of interest.

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Peloquin, L., Castelo-Soccio, L. Alopecia Areata: An Update on Treatment Options for Children. Pediatr Drugs 19, 411–422 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-017-0239-z

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