Expert consensus on alopecia areata diagnosis and treatment with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine (2024 version)

Title: Expert consensus on alopecia areata diagnosis and treatment with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine (2024 version)
Edition: Original
Classification: Experts consensus
Field: Diagnosis and Treatment
Countries and regions: China
Guidelines users: Dermatologist and Trichologist
Evidence classification method: Grading of recommendations assessment,development and evaluation (GRADE)
Development unit: National Hair Expert Committee of the Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Quality Control Center;National Center for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine - Hair Disease Medical Alliance;Traditional Chinese Medicine Beauty Branch of the China Plastic and Aesthetic Association;Hair Study Group of the Dermatology Branch of the Chinese Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine;Hair Study Group of the Dermatology and Venereology Committee of the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine;Hair Study Group of the Dermatology and Venereology Committee of the Beijing Association of Integrative Medicine;
Registration time: 2024-09-06
Registration number: PREPARE-2024CN423
Purpose of the guideline: Alopecia areata is a common immune-mediated inflammatory non-scarring hair loss condition that significantly impacts the physical and mental health of patients. The etiology of alopecia areata involves multiple factors, including genetic, immune, and neuropsychiatric factors, with various immune cells and cytokines participating in its pathogenesis. Traditional Chinese Medicine considers that this disease is mainly characterized by asthenia of healthy qi and sthenia of pathogenic factors, and is closely related to the liver, spleen, and kidney. Different types of alopecia areata require different treatment drugs and methods, leading to varied prognoses. Therefore, selecting appropriate treatment drugs and methods for patients is crucial for controlling the condition and improving prognosis. This consensus is based on recent domestic and international guidelines and research progress on the diagnosis and treatment of alopecia areata, fully leveraging the advantages of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. It emphasizes the addition of JAK inhibitors, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and microneedling treatments, providing a reference for the standardized clinical diagnosis and treatment of alopecia areata with integrated traditional Chinese and Western approaches.