Lupus and alopecia: what is the relationship?

Is there a correlation between lupus and alopecia? Thanks to a recent research, we could add a few more pieces to what is known on this topic definitely debated in recent years.

The research that we are talking about was recently published in the The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and shows that if you observe alopecia in a patient suffering from Lupus is possible that the disease is active. Specifically, in these cases the presence of non-scarring alopecia is observed, which, therefore, could be a telltale sign of a systemic problem. This can be observed because there are variations of this type of alopecia that have already been noted in patients suffering from Systemic Lupus erythematosus and, therefore, is led to believe that there is a correlation between the two things, even in light of some specific data which belong to researchers.

Therefore, when all this will be confirmed by subsequent studies and researches, it will be possible to include also non-scarring alopecia in those parameters of diagnosis for LES. In this way, it will be easier to diagnose the problem and begin the particular process of treatment.

We talk about a not scarring alopecia in cases where there is a residual activity of the hair follicles that, therefore, could again give birth to the hair spontaneously. We talk about scarring alopecia in those cases where there is an absence of the activity of hair follicles.

This research has been very important from several points of view. Until now, in fact, the definition of non-scarring alopecia was not clear. In contrast to scarring alopecia, which has been well defined for some time, this type of alopecia was often equated with alopecia caused by a reaction of the follicle to a disturbance in the life cycle of the hair. In other cases, this condition was confused with alopecia areata.

This study was carried out precisely to try to shed light on a subject that was not too clear, at least until now. We tried, therefore, to analyze some details of both non-scarring alopecia itself and the relationship between it and SLE. Therefore, the sample taken into consideration was made up of patients who were able to satisfy the characteristics that are sought. The sample in question was chosen on the basis of certain characteristics. Among the patients with SLE placed under observation 32 showed different patterns of non-scarring alopecia. In some of them it was at a mild level, in others it was more visible. In any case, the test served to put new pieces in a sort of puzzle that is still not well defined but that, soon, could be completed so as to have a clear idea of everything.