Bexarotene Gel: A New Topical Therapy for Alopecia Areata

The study explored the efficacy of 1% bexarotene gel as a topical treatment for alopecia areata (AA) in a prospective 'half-head' trial involving 42 patients. Over 6 months, 12% of patients showed at least 50% hair regrowth on the treated side, and 14% showed similar regrowth on both sides, possibly due to gel diffusion or noncompliance. The treatment was well tolerated, though one patient with alopecia universalis only responded to additional oral prednisone. Despite the high cost of bexarotene gel, it presented a promising alternative to existing treatments with significant risks.