[Update on the treatment of alopecia areata]

Alopecia areata is nonscarring telogenic alopecia of autoimmune etiology. It is estimated to be the presenting complaint in 2 % of dermatologic consultations, and can appear at any age although it is more common in young patients. Treatment depends on several factors, such as extent of the disease and age, and may be local or systemic. Local treatments aim to achieve hair regrowth, but do not alter the underlying condition, whereas systemic treatments can modify the course of the disease. In neither case does treatment provide a cure. In this article, we review most of the therapeutic options described in the literature for alopecia areata.