Elucidating a thorough history is critical in patients presenting with extensive hair loss. Most patients presenting with AT will have a history of discrete, patchy hair loss, which has progressed to total scalp involvement, though only 5%-10% of patients with AF progress to totalis or universalis.[5] For patients with AT, the most common initial presentation is multifocal AA, defined as 5 or more discrete patches. The time from the initial development of AA to progression to AT is, on average one year, and within 4 years in 90% of patients.[1]

Family history and past medical history are also important to obtain. There is a positive family history of hair loss in about 20% of cases. Comorbid conditions are common in patients with AA and might be slightly more frequent in those with AT, affecting about 20% of patients. Comorbidities in order of highest frequency include autoimmune thyroid disease, vitiligo, type I diabetes mellitus, atopy, and inflammatory bowel disease.[1]

On physical examination, there is a near-complete loss of scalp hair, with preservation of hair at other bodily sites, including the eyelashes, eyebrows, axilla, and pubic area. On the scalp, follicular orifices should be visible, in contrast to scarring alopecia, where they are absent. There should be minimal scalp erythema or scale. At the periphery of affected areas, exclamation point hairs may be seen. These are thick at the apex of the hair shaft and thinner towards the base of the shaft. In previously affected areas where spontaneous regrowth has occurred, the hair may initially be non-pigmented, but repigmentation usually occurs in weeks to months.

The nails should be closely evaluated as nail involvement is common in alopecia areata. This is even more frequent in patients with AT than AF and is seen in about 20%.[1] Nail pitting is the most common abnormality. Brittle nails, trachyonychia, and onycholysis are also seen.[12]

The history and physical examination are often sufficient for making the diagnosis. In most cases, the patient will have a history of patchy hair loss, which has progressed to complete loss of hair on the scalp, with the physical exam findings described above. The dermatoscope can aid in examination. Trichoscopy, a term for dermoscopic evaluation of hair, reveals perifollicular yellow dots, black dots, tapering hairs, and vellus hairs.[13][14]

If the diagnosis remains unclear, a biopsy with histologic examination can be utilized. One or two 4 mm punch biopsies of the scalp are often performed. The specimens may be sectioned horizontally or vertically, so some practitioners perform two punch biopsies, one for vertical sectioning and another for horizontal sectioning for a thorough evaluation of the follicles.[1][10] Sometimes a single bisected punch can have one half sectioned vertically, and the other half horizontally, but then the sample size is smaller.

In certain patients, lab work may be indicated. Thyroid testing (such as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with reflex to free thyroxine (T4) is the most important screening laboratory test. Other tests sometimes ordered with alopecia, in general, include a complete blood count (CBC), vitamin and mineral levels, rapid plasma reagin (RPR), plasma testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and antinuclear antibody (ANA).

There are numerous therapies available for AA, including intralesional, topical, and systemic modalities. Due to the extent of involvement, intralesional administration is often impractical in AT, and treatment is initiated with topical or systemic agents. There are many more studies on the treatment of AF than studies specifically evaluating the treatment of AT. Of those that studied AT, the most efficacious treatments were found to be topical immunotherapy, phototherapy, pulsed systemic steroids, and immunosuppressive agents. There have also been successful case reports of JAK inhibitors and the combination simvastatin and ezetimibe, though clinical trials with outcomes for AT patients are lacking.[15]

Topical steroids are an initial conservative treatment for AT. These are most often utilized in children less than 10 years old presenting with extensive disease. Therapy with a super potent topical steroid such as clobetasol 0.05% solution or foam is recommended. Children with a history of hair loss for less than one year have shown better responses than those with longer disease durations.[9]

Topical immunotherapy can be used in extensive AA and is performed with diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP, diphencyprone) or squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE). Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was also used but has largely been abandoned because of mutagenicity by the Ames test.[16] These agents cause mild allergic contact dermatitis of the scalp and work through an incompletely understood mechanism. Some authorities prefer to try DPCP first, and if the patient fails treatment, then SADBE may be tried. These treatments are administered regularly, usually weekly. The most common side effects are localized irritation, itching, or erythema.[15] Upon discontinuation, rates of relapse are lower than those for many other treatment modalities.

Systemic steroids are another frequently used initial therapy to stimulate hair regrowth with good results. Monthly intramuscular triamcinolone injections have shown the most success, followed by pulsatile oral prednisone or methylprednisolone.[15] A variety of pulsed oral steroid regimens have been studied, without a significant difference in results. These vary from 2 consecutive daily pulses every 3 weeks to every 3 months. Adverse effects of systemic steroid treatment include weight gain, acne, dysmenorrhea, and moon facies. Relapse after discontinuation is common.

Immunosuppressive agents are often used second-line after a patient has failed standard therapy. These include cyclosporine, methotrexate, or azathioprine, alone or in combination with systemic steroids. Methotrexate can be used in both children and adults and is dosed weekly, usually at 15 to 25mg. Cyclosporine may be used as monotherapy in adults and is usually dosed at 3 to 5 mg/kg/day. Treatment duration should be limited to 6 to 12 months.[9][17]

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are newer medications that are currently being studied in alopecia areata and totalis. These include tofacitinib, ruxolitinib, and baricitinib. These agents have promising therapeutic benefit due to our current understanding of the pathogenesis of AA. JAK inhibitors have proven efficacious in treating other inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. There are a few open-label trials for AA patients, which have shown impressive results with significant hair regrowth. However, many patients have a recurrence of hair loss after therapy discontinuation. Side effects of oral JAK inhibitors include viral reactivation, infection, transaminitis, and bone marrow suppression.[9] JAK inhibitors have also been used topically.[15] Topical 2% tofacitinib has been reported to have good results, though relapse upon discontinuation is also high.[18]

Phototherapy with psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used in cases of extensive AA with reported success. PUVA involves oral or topical administration of psoralen, a photosensitizing agent, followed by UVA light exposure. The adverse effects of PUVA include cutaneous malignancy, so this therapy should be utilized cautiously. PDT is a similar therapy with the application of a photosensitizer, such as 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA), followed by light exposure. This therapy has mixed results, and clinical trials are lacking.[19][20]

There are case reports of the use of daily simvastatin in combination with ezetimibe, with reported success, though no trials have been conducted.[15]

In addition to medical intervention, products to conceal hair loss such as wigs, hairpieces, and scalp prostheses may be used instead of or in conjunction with other treatments. Topical and systemic therapies take time to achieve results, and wigs or prostheses provide immediate coverage. These can be purchased readymade or customized for the patient. There are options made with human hair and others with synthetic fibers. Due to the extensive nature of the disease and psychological impact, many patients prefer to keep their scalp covered while undergoing medical therapy.[9]

• Telogen effluvium
• Anagen effluvium
• Androgenetic alopecia

Alopecia totalis generally has a worse prognosis than the more common patchy type of alopecia areata, with up to 23% of patients not responding to any therapy. In AT, the initial recovery rates are often higher than long-term rates due to the high rate of relapse.[1] Spontaneous recovery occurs in less than 10%, and long term complete recovery is about 8.5%.[21][22] Risk factors for a poor prognosis include a positive family history of AA and the baseline extent of AA.[1] There is a recently described AT subtype, acute diffuse and total alopecia (ADTA), which occurs in young adults and portends a more favorable prognosis.[21]

Psychological disorders such as anxiety, phobias, depression, and panic disorders are more common in patients with AA. There is a correlation between the extent of disease and the amount of psychological distress, so patients with AT are at higher risk for these comorbidities.[23]

Patients should be educated on the chronic nature of this disease. In addition to discussing therapeutic options, side effects, as well as the rate of relapse, should be discussed before initiating therapy. Patients should be counseled on the high degree of psychological distress that can accompany this condition and be referred to mental health providers when appropriate. Patients should be given resources for organizations such as the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), where they can learn more about this disease and connect with other affected individuals.

• Be sure to recognize and address psychosocial conditions that are often associated with alopecia totalis. Referral to a support group may be helpful.
• Patients often prefer to try some treatment even though the overall complete recovery rate is only 8.5%. A discussion of realistic goals is helpful.
• Thyroid testing (such as a TSH with reflex to free T4) is the most important screening laboratory test. Other tests sometimes ordered with alopecia, in general, include a CBC, vitamin and mineral levels, RPR, plasma testosterone, DHEA-S, and ANA.
• Telogen effluvium can resemble alopecia totalis, but it has a more sudden onset and is self-limited. Also, there is no history of localized alopecia focalis.

Alopecia totalis is best managed with an interprofessional team approach. Alopecia areata may initially be encountered by the primary care provider. General practitioners need to recognize this condition and refer the patient to a dermatologist for consideration of treatment options. This is particularly imperative in alopecia totalis, which portends a worse prognosis, with a lower likelihood for spontaneous recovery. A referral to a therapist or psychiatrist may also be appropriate due to the high rates of psychological distress secondary to extensive hair loss. Lastly, the provider should be familiar with resources to provide the affected individual and family, as there are numerous associations and support groups that patients may find valuable.