TLDR Diphencyprone (DPC) is an effective and safe long-term treatment for alopecia areata, especially with maintenance therapy.
The study evaluated the effectiveness of Diphencyprone (DPC) in treating alopecia areata (AA) over five years, involving 135 patients divided into groups based on the extent of scalp affection. Results showed that 55.7% of patients achieved an excellent response (terminal hair covering >75% of the scalp) after 24 months, with the highest success in patients with less extensive AA. Maintenance therapy significantly reduced relapse rates, with 17.9% experiencing >25% hair loss compared to 57.1% without maintenance. The study concluded that DPC is an effective and safe treatment for extensive AA, recommending long-term and maintenance therapy to enhance outcomes and reduce relapse risk.
36 citations,
May 2005 in “BMC dermatology” DPCP is effective for treating severe alopecia areata, but relapse is common.
84 citations,
August 1991 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Most children treated with diphencyprone regrew some or all of their hair.
36 citations,
March 1989 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” DPCP is more effective than tretinoin gel for treating severe alopecia.
42 citations,
August 1987 in “Archives of Dermatology” Squaric acid dibutylester led to complete hair regrowth in 28.5% of patients with alopecia areata.
6 citations,
March 2019 in “JAAD case reports” A new mix of anthralin and calcipotriene might help treat severe hair loss.
148 citations,
December 2018 in “Journal of autoimmunity” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.
4 citations,
November 2018 in “JAAD case reports” Alopecia areata can sometimes appear as a straight line of hair loss instead of round patches.
May 2018 in “Journal of cosmetology & trichology” Combining platelet-rich plasma therapy with prostaglandin-F eye drops can significantly regrow hair in alopecia universalis.
