Subsurface detection of hair follicles in alopecia areata using optical coherence tomography

• Main Authors: Yow, Ai Ping, Lee, Wellington Zhengdao, Wong, Damon Wing Kee, Tey, Hong Liang
• Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Optics, optoelectronics, photonics; Engineering::Chemical engineering; Optical Coherence Tomography; Hair Follicle
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/156187
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune skin disorder that affects any hair-bearing areas and results in localized nonscarring hair loss. It can occur in individuals at any age regardless of ethnicity with a lifetime risk of 1–2%.1 The loss of hair is caused by perifollicular inflammation, which is associated with cytokines and chemokines released by T cells.2, 3 Although spontaneous regrowth is possible in 80% of patchy AA, full resolution is slow.4 Patients with AA can be treated with various treatment options including a topical or intralesional steroid. While intralesional steroid injection is more effective and frequently used, it requires repeated injections every 4–6 weeks. In addition, patients may experience discomfort caused by the needle pricks during injection and the presence of steroid-induced atrophy at the site of injection.