578 | id == 578
578 | category_id == 30
578 | category_order == 27
578 | category_name == Hair Loss
578 | category_color == #C47AC0
578 | slug == IL13-alopecia-areata
578 | title == A Genetic Link Between Allergies and Alopecia Areata (IL13)
578 | meta_description == IL-13 is an immune system protein. Variants of IL13 have been associated with alopecia areata. Read more here.
578 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>IL13</em> gene codes for an immune system protein. How might variants of <em>IL13</em> increase your risk of alopecia areata? Read more to find out.</strong></p>
578 | overall_score_text == Your Hair Loss Score (based on IL13 gene)
578 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/IL13-Alopecia-areata.jpg
578 | author_id == 14
578 | author_name == Shany Lahan
578 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
578 | author_order == 5
578 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
578 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
578 | reviewer == None
578 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
578 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
578 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
578 | publish_date == 2020
578 | publish_date == 12
578 | publish_date == 30
578 | avg_rating == 5.0
578 | tags_id == 860
578 | tags_name == Allergic Diseases
578 | tags_id == 88
578 | tags_name == Alopecia Areata
578 | tags_id == 33
578 | tags_name == Autoimmunity
578 | tags_id == 857
578 | tags_name == Filaggrin
578 | tags_id == 1029
578 | tags_name == Hair Loss
578 | tags_id == 591
578 | tags_name == IgE Antibodies
578 | tags_id == 367
578 | tags_name == IL-13
578 | tags_id == 366
578 | tags_name == IL13 gene
578 | tags_id == 859
578 | tags_name == Keratin
578 | tags_id == 858
578 | tags_name == Skin
578 | permissions_favorite == False
578 | permissions_rate == False
578 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-13 is an immune system protein that can stimulate the release of antibodies and compromise the skin barrier. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL13 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in alopecia areata by increasing the production of IL-13. Lifestyle and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by decreasing IL-13 production.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>IL13</em></strong><strong> and Alopecia Areata</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/il13/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL13</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">gene codes for interleukin 13 (IL-13), a protein released by </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/supplements-people-th2-dominant/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">type 2 immune response</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/supplements-people-th2-dominant/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Th2</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) cells. While many scientists consider elevated Th2 activity to underlie a number of allergic diseases, its role in autoimmune diseases such as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">alopecia areata</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (spot baldness) is not well understood [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3596"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32533873/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33099387/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">More recently, scientists have suggested that patients with allergies may be more predisposed to developing certain autoimmune disorders, including alopecia areata [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31479542/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indeed, IL-13 is able to stimulate the release of a type of antibody called IgE from immune system cells. The release of IgE antibodies is an early step in the progression of allergic reactions, and elevated IgE levels have been reported in individuals with alopecia areata [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC27457/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24860742/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-13 might also inhibit the production of a protein called </span><strong>fil</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">ament </span><strong>aggr</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">egating prote</span><strong>in</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (filaggrin). Filaggrin helps provide structure to the outermost layer of the skin by binding together a type of fibrous protein called keratin. In this manner, filaggrin is able to maintain a skin barrier that can protect against allergens (allergy-causing substances), bacteria, and viruses [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31509236/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18620134/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23374260/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Skin barrier integrity may be similarly essential for the prevention of alopecia areata, as dysfunctional filaggrin has been linked to more severe cases of this disorder [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17581619/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variants of </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/il13/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL13</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">have been associated with alopecia areata. These variants may increase the production of IL-13, resulting in increased IgE antibody release and decreased production of filaggrin. This may, in turn, promote allergic reactions that have the potential to lead to autoimmunity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4451186/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22534877/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23607748/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31509236/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>IL13</em></strong><strong> Results for Alopecia Areata</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5968612292934223*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>IL13 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs848/"><strong>rs848</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4451186/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]&nbsp;</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Higher odds of alopecia areata, relative to &lsquo;C&rsquo;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Lower odds of alopecia areata, relative to &lsquo;A&rsquo;</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Other Important SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>IL13 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs20541/"><strong>rs20541</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22534877/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Higher odds of alopecia areata, relative to &lsquo;G&rsquo;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Lower odds of alopecia areata, relative to &lsquo;A&rsquo;</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*2794401487198914*</p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recommendations for Managing Alopecia Areata</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*1066157908161136*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Light Therapy</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One small study found <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UVA</a> light therapy to lower levels of IL-13 in patients with eczema [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18363757/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UV</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">A light therapy combined with drugs that increase the sensitivity of the skin to this radiation (methoxsalen and psoralen) promoted hair regrowth, without causing major adverse effects, in 5 trials of alopecia areata patients [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6651314/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16164707/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16603835/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28233311/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30411986/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UV-B radiation was also effective when applied via a targeted excimer laser, in 3 trials of people with alopecia areata [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15523373/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18076615/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19840308/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2 small trials of people with alopecia areata, </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/my-review-of-lllt/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LLLT</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/infrared-radiation-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">infrared radiation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> applied for 3 minutes every week or every 2 weeks sped up hair regrowth in most patients [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12956694/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16581682/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Light therapy may help manage alopecia areata by lowering levels of IL-13.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Topical Garlic</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies have reported that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/garlic-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">garlic</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may alleviate allergies and related inflammation, partly by lowering the production of IL-13 [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31366207/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31581442/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24051194/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a randomized controlled trial of people with alopecia areata, a topical garlic gel applied twice daily for 3 months as an add-on to corticosteroids significantly improved hair regrowth [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17314444/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Topical garlic may help manage alopecia areata by lowering levels of IL-13.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Topical Onion</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of mice with hay fever, onion extract lowered inflammation and symptoms, in part by decreasing production of IL-13 [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30814581/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial of people with alopecia areata, applying onion juice twice daily for 2 months caused hair regrowth in 87% of the patients (as opposed to only 13% of those who used tap water) [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12126069/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Topical onion may help manage alopecia areata by lowering levels of IL-13.</span></p>
578 | content_snp_table_5968612292934223_key == 5968612292934223
578 | content_snp_table_5968612292934223_blur == True
578 | content_snp_table_5968612292934223_hidden == False
578 | content_learn_more_2794401487198914_key == 2794401487198914
578 | content_learn_more_2794401487198914_blur == True
578 | content_learn_more_2794401487198914_hidden == False
578 | content_learn_more_2794401487198914_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your IL13 gene is associated with somewhat higher odds of alopecia areata, relative to other variants. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of alopecia areata; it’s just one gene related to it. Light therapy, topical garlic, and topical onion may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
578 | content_recommendation_1066157908161136_key == 1066157908161136
578 | content_recommendation_1066157908161136_blur == True
578 | content_recommendation_1066157908161136_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs20541,rs848
rsStatus = rs20541,IL13,chr5,132660272,A,C,G,T,25,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs848,IL13,chr5,132660808,A,C,G,,8,25,HET
