The brain-hair follicle link in alopecia areata Huhu M.R1., Ioan P.A1 , Pavel D.1, poi C.

1, Ghi M.A.1, Cruntu C.2

Huhu M.R and Ioan P.A. have contributed equally. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dermatolo!y Research "aboratory, # Center for $%cellence in &euroscience

Alopecia areata is a recurrent hair follicle inflammator !isease, havin" a comple#, multi$ factorial an! not full un!erstoo! aetiopatho"enesis. %hou"h consi!ere! to &e a %$cell' me!iate! autoimmune con!ition that is most li(el to occur in "eneticall pre!ispose! in!ivi!uals, emotional stress is consi!ere! to pla a si"nificant role in the onset, e#acer&ation an! treatment outcomes in alopecia areata. )n the other han!, !ue to the esthetic conse*uences an! poor therapeutic outcomes, alopecia areata implies an immense emotional an! ps chosocial &ur!en of affecte! patients an! their families. Ps chosocial stress seems to influence the c clic activit of the hair follicle throu"h increase! cutaneous release of neuropepti!es, neurohormones an! neurome!iators +hich mo!ulates the interactions &et+een the nervous s stem an! the s(in.%he aim of this paper is to revie+ the latest pu&lishe! literature on this su&,ect in or!er to outline the ma,or impact of these su&stances on the patho"enesis of alopecia areata. %hus, there is increasin" evi!ence for the e#istence of a !efine! &rain$hair follicle lin( +hich mi"ht reveal ne+ therapeutic options in alopecia areata.