Zinc appears to be a useful marker in assessing prognosis with the hair-loss condition alopecia areata (AA). Both newly diagnosed patients and patients with treatment resistant AA have lower serum zinc levels, compared to nonaffected controls, according to a study published in the International Journal of Dermatology. Among patients with AA, lower levels of zinc are tied to disease duration, severity of AA, and resistance to therapies. While the exact role zinc plays in the pathogenesis of AA is unknown, zinc is a trace element involved in important functional activities of hair follicles. AA is thought to be an autoimmune disease characterized by hair loss. Serum zinc levels were assessed in patients with newly diagnosed AA (n=25; diagnosis within one to three months), resistant AA (n=25) and in 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Participants with resistant AA had the condition for at least six months duration (actual range disease duration ranging from 6 to 30 months) and received three or more common therapies without success. AA severity was assessed using a previously validated tool. Venous blood samples (three mL fasting for six to eight hours) were taken from each participant. Serum levels of zinc were evaluated using the colorimetric […]