Comparative analysis of therapeutic outcomes in pediatric versus adult ophiasis-pattern alopecia areata: A review of treatment modalities and disease course

ABSTRACT

Alopecia areata (AA) is the predominant etiology of nonscarring hair loss in pediatric patients, and its management remains challenging in routine clinical practice. Ophiasis-pattern AA (OP) – a distinct morphological pattern – has not undergone thorough examination, and the degree of treatment variability between pediatric populations and adults remains ambiguous. This narrative review suggests that corticosteroids and Janus kinase inhibitors are effective in treating OP in both adult and pediatric populations. However, due to limited age-specific evidence, further research is needed to confirm the efficacy, durability, and safety of these treatments across different age groups.