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.
Cited in this study
4 / 4 results
37 citations
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September 2012 in “Archives of dermatology” 
218 citations
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May 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
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July 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
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April 2008 in “Cochrane library” Current treatments for alopecia show no significant long-term benefits.
148 citations
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March 2019 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
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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.
