Alopecia Areata: Combination Therapy with Isotretinoin (0.05%) Gel and Minoxidil (2%) Solution

In a study involving 54 patients with alopecia areata, a combination therapy of minoxidil (2%) solution and isotretinoin (0.05%) gel was found to be effective in stimulating hair regrowth. The treatment, which lasted for four months with a subsequent two-month maintenance phase, resulted in complete hair restoration in 83.3% of the patients. The therapy was also deemed cost-effective and well-tolerated, with only minor side effects reported. The success rate varied with the number of lesions, with patients having a single patch showing a 100% regrowth rate, while those with two and three lesions had success rates of 83.3% and 79.3%, respectively.