Alopecia Areata in Conversation

Alopecia areata: Addressing the psychosocial burden

Episode 4. “Our goal is restoring patients to their normal baseline function – not just treating hair loss, but validating the person behind it.” Host Arash Mostaghimi and guest Ursula Biba reveal how anxiety, depression, and social isolation shape the lives of patients with AA. They discuss the importance of asking “How is this impacting you?” and share practical strategies for connecting with individuals across generations. The discussion highlights the evolving role of social media, the challenge of misinformation, and why new guidelines are redefining disease severity to include psychosocial impact.

The growing role of JAK inhibitors in alopecia areata

Episode 3. “We now have great treatments – but patients need to give them time.” Luiza Kalil and Mark Lebwohl discuss how JAK inhibitors are transforming care for patients with AA, from expanding treatment options to shifting patient expectations. They explore practical strategies for choosing systemic therapies, navigating black box warnings, and setting patient expectations around timelines and responses.

“Time is hair”: AA diagnosis across populations

Episode 2. Brittany Craiglow and Amy McMichael examine the complexities of diagnosing AA across different racial and ethnic groups. They discuss how clinical and trichoscopic features can vary, especially in patients of color, and the implications for diagnosis and treatment. They also cover common misdiagnoses, the role of SALT scoring, best practices for biopsy technique, and the importance of photo documentation in tracking patient progress.

Evolving assessment and treatment strategies

Episode 1. “It’s really, really fun to see people grow hair.” Brittany Craiglow welcomes Luiza Kalil to explore evolving strategies for assessing and treating AA, including severity scoring tools, nuanced decisions around systemic therapies, and the pivotal role of shared decision-making in tailoring treatment to individual patient needs.