**3. Alopecia treatments**

There are scarce treatments approved for the treatment of this disease. In fact, topical minoxidil, oral finasteride, and low-level light therapy are the only Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency-approved therapies to treat AGA. Nevertheless, there are many treatment options available used off-label for treating AGA, including other oral and topical modalities, hormonal therapies, nutraceuticals, PRP, exosome treatments, and hair transplantation [21]. There are different therapeutic options for AA, depending on the patient's age and AA severity. In patients with isolated patches of hair loss injections of potent corticosteroids are the best therapeutic options. In patients who refuse injections, potent topical corticosteroids could be considered the first-line therapy. If AA is extensive, systemic drugs are recommended. Systemic corticosteroids can be effective but long-term use is related to adverse events. Other systemic immunosuppressive agents that can be used in AA include methotrexate or azathioprine. JAK inhibitors, such as tofacitinib and baricitinib, are novel promising therapies for severe cases of AA [22, 23]. Topical corticosteroids, topical and oral minoxidil, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, hydroxychloroquine, or isotretinoin can be used for AFF [24]. Topical corticoids are recommended, especially in the early inflammatory stage, but relapse occurs upon their discontinuation [21]. Potent topical steroids and calcineurin inhibitors reduce inflammation, but without any clear benefit in slowing the alopecia. Isotretinoin, acitretin, or finasteride could stop AFF [24]. Therapeutic options for other scarring alopecia will be directed toward the causative disease [2].

The number of patients consulting about alopecia and patients' and doctors' interest in this condition is rapidly increasing [25]. Moreover, treatments available for alopecia are also growing. In that way, this chapter will review the currently available treatment for AGA, FFA, and other scaling alopecia. Moreover, it will include a chapter about the psychological management of alopecia, due to the great psychologic impact this disease has, and a chapter about novel and less known treatments, such excimer phototherapy.

*Introductory Chapter: Alopecia Management – An Update DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109937*
