TLDR Clobetasol propionate, 0.05%, is more effective and safe for treating childhood alopecia areata than hydrocortisone, 1%.
This study compared the efficacy and safety of clobetasol propionate, 0.05%, cream versus hydrocortisone, 1%, cream in treating pediatric alopecia areata over 24 weeks with 41 children aged 2 to 16. Clobetasol significantly reduced the scalp surface area with hair loss compared to hydrocortisone (P < .001), with 85% of children in the clobetasol group experiencing at least a 50% reduction in hair loss versus 33.3% in the hydrocortisone group. One patient experienced temporary skin atrophy. The study concluded that clobetasol is an effective and safe first-line treatment for limited patchy childhood alopecia areata.
37 citations,
September 2012 in “Archives of dermatology” Diphencyprone can help some children with alopecia areata regrow hair, but it often causes side effects.
218 citations,
April 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Guidelines suggest various treatments for alopecia areata, but leaving it untreated is also an option as 80% cases may recover on their own.
70 citations,
April 2011 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” Methotrexate sometimes helps regrow hair in children with severe alopecia areata and is generally safe.
164 citations,
April 2008 in “Cochrane library” Current treatments for alopecia show no significant long-term benefits.
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.
