Date: February 26, 2015 Student Name: Gracie Cole Teacher s Name (if entering as part of a school or class): Lisette Nenninger and Erin Raney School Name (requested from all participants): St. Anne School School Address: 101 West Lee Street Seattle, WA, 98119 Select One: Western Washington Enter this essay in the English Language Learner (for 5 years or less of English) category: No
Alopecia Areata Treatments and Trials Imagine waking up one morning only to find that the hair on your head was no where to be found. I have had this experience before. My dermatologist diagnosed me with the skin disease, alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is caused when your immune system attacks your hair follicles. This particular skin disease is believed to be hereditary, but there isn t much knowledge on why the immune system attacks. 2 Alopecia areata mainly starts on the head, but can spread if not treated. Approximately 1 2% of the world s population suffer from alopecia. 6 It is an autoimmune disease, so anyone can be a victim. In 2011, as a fifth grader, I woke up only to find that my whole front hairline was gone. I felt like an outcast, vulnerable, alone. I then started to receive cortisone injections. My injections were weekly to monthly. Thanks to continuing biomedical research, my hair is growing back strong. May of 2014, Yale University conducted a study for a single patient with alopecia areata universalis, whole body hair loss. For 2 two months, the patient received 10 mg daily of tofacitinib, and 15 mg for 3 months after. Tofacitinib has a biologic agent that is known for aiding the immune system. Results for the patient included a full set of hair and facial hair. 4 It is very promising as of right now, but can t be put in creams and ointments. Though I never received this treatment, I am happy that it will give more hope for people with all types of alopecia areata. After Yale University s study, Columbia University Medical Center has also done trials on alopecia areata. In August of 2014, the university put together an experiment for people that suffer from alopecia. Instead of using humans, they used mice.
Ruxolitinib was the main drug used on the hairless mice, and results were amazing. Within just 12 weeks bald mice grew a whole coat of thick fur. 5 After those results, volunteers with alopecia areata were being tested in the same way. The same results happened. Within a short amount of time, many people received the hair they wanted and deserved. Though I also never took this treatment, I believe it can benefit all people in many ways. Furthermore, in September of 2005, Catherine Thompson, a molecular biologist, led a group in another study for alopecia areata. They also used small field mice with the gene Hairless. Hairless causes the mice to grow without producing hair. To do this experiment, researchers activated progenitor keratinocyte (PK) cells to turn into new hair follicles. As small patches of hair grew back, they tested to see if Hairless was still present in the cells. 5 They found out that only between new hair growth periods was the gene still present in the PK cells. As the hair was growing back, it was not located. I hope this study leads to future improvement and advancements in alopecia areata. I am very thankful for all the efforts and biomedical research that has helped my hair to grow back. If none of this research had been done, alopecia areata would be incurable. I hope even more biomedical research is dedicated to alopecia, and that it wouldn t be such a problem for so many families. From this experience, I have learned to be comfortable with who you and others are. It doesn t matter if they have hair or how much, because things can always change.
Reflection Paragraph I chose to research alopecia areata because I have had plenty of experience with it. Since I was diagnosed before many new trials came in, nobody knew how it was caused or any significant treatments besides cortisone injections, which take longer to regrow hair. I wasn t at the age to even be interested in what I had. As I started my research, I became even more and more engaged in what I personally was experiencing. I learned about how much has been done to benefit people with alopecia. I also clarified some key points and other questions with my dermatologist, Dr. Sonja Krejci. From all the research I have done, including my interview, I have been very grateful I am to be part of such an advanced world.
Works Cited 1. "Alopecia Areata." Alopecia Areata. American Academy of Dermatology, 2015. Web. 28 Jan. 2015. 2. "Alopecia Areata." Questions and Answers About. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2015 3. American Association for the Advancement of Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2015"In Hairless Man, Arthritis Drug Spurs Hair Growth - Lots of It." Yale News. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. 4. Bohannon, John. "Follicles Reborn." American Association for the Advancement of Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. 5. "FDA-Approved Drug Restores Hair in Patients with Alopecia Areata - Columbia University Medical Center." Columbia University Medical Center. N.p., 17 Aug. 2014. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. 6. Krejci, Sonja. Telephone Interview. 29 Jan. 2015 7. National Alopecia Areata Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.