August marks Hair Loss Awareness Month, a timely opportunity for clinicians to reflect on both the burden and the breakthroughs surrounding alopecia. Advances in clinical research, biotechnology, and patient care continue to reshape the therapeutic landscape for conditions like alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, and scarring alopecia.
Dermatology Times invites you to join us in advancing understanding, promoting dialogue, and ultimately improving outcomes for patients living with hair loss disorders, not just this month but all year round. In this special news roundup, we present the latest news and advancements in alopecia that are shaping the future of diagnosis, research, and treatment.
Jonathan Zalevsky, PhD, on Rezpegaldesleukin’s Biologic Approach to Alopecia Areata
Jonathan Zalevsky, PhD, Chief Research and Development Officer at Nektar Therapeutics, met with Dermatology Times to discuss the clinical development and recent Fast Track designation of rezpegaldesleukin (REZPEG), an investigational interleukin-2 (IL-2) based therapy designed to selectively activate regulatory T cells (Tregs). This mechanism has shown potential for treating immune-mediated skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata.
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New Phase 3 UP-AA Data Demonstrate Significant Improvement in SALT Score With Upadacitinib in Alopecia
AbbVie announced positive topline results from the second pivotal study in its phase 3 UP-AA clinical program evaluating upadacitinib (Rinvoq) for severe alopecia areata. In the second study of the UP-AA program (NCT06012240), both the 15 mg and 30 mg once-daily dose cohorts receiving treatment with upadacitinib achieved the primary endpoint, with 44.6% and 54.3% of patients, respectively, achieving ≥80% scalp hair coverage (SALT ≤ 20) by week 24. This was a statistically significant improvement compared to placebo (3.4%; p < 0.001).
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Time Equals Follicles: The Evolving Landscape of Hair Loss Treatment with Alan J. Bauman, MD
In recognition of August’s Hair Loss Awareness Month, Dermatology Times spoke with Alan J. Bauman, MD, founder of Bauman Medical in Boca Raton, Florida. With more than 35,000 patients treated and nearly 3 decades of experience, Bauman shared insights on early intervention, cutting-edge diagnostics, regenerative therapies, and the evolving role of personalized technology in the treatment of alopecia.
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AI-Powered Insights From 1 Million Users Reveal New Trends in Hair Loss
A new study presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Innovation Academy in Chicago, Illinois, explored trends in alopecia and hair loss epidemiology as the largest consumer-sourced hair loss data set to date. A team of researchers, led by MDalgorithms co-founder Yoram Harth, MD, FAAD, analyzed data from more than 1 million users on MDhair, a hair health app powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Patterns, risk factors, and severity of hair loss across age, gender, hormonal status, and medical conditions were assessed. In the US, androgenetic alopecia is the most prevalent form of hair loss, impacting 50 million men and 30 million women.
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Scalp Disorders in SoC: A Diagnostic Blind Spot
A new systematic review sheds light on significant diagnostic gaps in the care of hair and scalp disorders among patients with skin of color (SoC), emphasizing the urgent need for better diagnostic protocols and improved SoC-specific training in dermatology. The study comprehensively reviewed all available literature on misdiagnosed or diagnostically challenging hair and scalp conditions affecting patients with SoC. Using a rigorous search strategy across 4 major databases—Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science—researchers assessed 3,272 titles and abstracts and 116 full-text articles, ultimately including 21 studies describing 30 individual patient cases.
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Mallia Aesthetics Completes Regulatory Milestones for Novel sCD83-Based Hair Growth Technology
Mallia Aesthetics GmbH, a German biopharmaceutical and cosmetics company, completed several developmental and regulatory steps toward the validation of MAL-838, the foundation of its upcoming hormone-free 8T3 product line targeting hair growth. These steps further establish the novel products’ readiness for the market later this year.
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Improving Hair Loss Documentation with Standardized Photography in Clinic
A new study demonstrated the effectiveness and benefits of integrating standardized clinical photography protocols to help manage hair loss in patients. Researchers aimed to increase the correct use of standardized photos by 60%, thus increasing the percentage of patients being properly treated for alopecia and other similar conditions.
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