Alopecia Areata and Toxic Metals

Abstract

Toxic metals are not so rare but are often neglected causes of alopecia areata in men and women. Thallium, arsenic, selenium, and mercury are the most common cause of metals-related alopecia, which is what Vicky Yu and colleagues’ found. Other than the presence of thallium, arsenic, mercury, and selenium, cadmium, bismuth, lithium, and copper should also be taken into account when dermatologists are considering toxic metals as a potential cause of alopecia areata in humans.