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Opinion|Videos|June 10, 2026

From Specialist Roles to Unmet Needs: Advancing Alopecia Areata Care

The expert clinician examined the multidisciplinary approach to alopecia areata care, with the board-certified dermatologist serving as the central coordinator, supported by pediatricians and family practice providers for early recognition and timely referral, dermatopathologists for cases requiring biopsy, and specialists in endocrinology, rheumatology, and psychiatry or psychology for management of associated comorbidities and psychosocial needs.

Episodes in this series

In the final episode, 'From Specialist Roles to Unmet Needs: Advancing Alopecia Areata Care,' the panelists explored the following critical questions:


Who are the different specialists involved in the diagnosis and management of alopecia areata and what are their respective roles?


What were the unmet needs with alopecia areata treatments that led to the development of novel therapeutics?


The expert clinician examined the multidisciplinary approach to alopecia areata care, with the board-certified dermatologist serving as the central coordinator, supported by pediatricians and family practice providers for early recognition and timely referral, dermatopathologists for cases requiring biopsy, and specialists in endocrinology, rheumatology, and psychiatry or psychology for management of associated comorbidities and psychosocial needs. Dr. McMichael then outlined the significant limitations of historical treatments — including topical, intralesional, and systemic corticosteroids, and methotrexate — which, while sometimes effective, were unable to reliably bring patients with severe alopecia areata to cosmetically acceptable levels of hair regrowth, were associated with pain, systemic side effects, and inconsistent outcomes. She highlighted that the availability of three FDA-approved JAK inhibitors has transformed the treatment landscape by offering more predictable and meaningful hair regrowth, particularly when initiated early, while also identifying remaining unmet needs including non-response to existing agents, the absence of FDA-approved options for patients under age 12, and the need for therapies that prevent the waxing and waning of hair loss over time.


Throughout the conversation, the expert provided a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.


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