Comparative Study Between Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Versus Intralesional Steroids Injection in Treatment of Alopecia Areata

The study compared the effectiveness of Fractional Carbon Dioxide (FCO2) laser and intralesional corticosteroids (ILCs) injections in treating alopecia areata (AA) in 20 patients. Each patient had two patches of AA, with one treated using FCO2 laser and the other with ILCs. Results showed that FCO2 laser treatment led to significantly better outcomes in terms of Mean Improvement Score by Physician (MISP), patient satisfaction, and hair density. Specifically, 35% of cases treated with FCO2 laser showed excellent improvement, while 55% of cases treated with ILCs showed no or minimal improvement. Patient satisfaction was higher with FCO2 laser (median of 9) compared to ILCs (median of 3). The study concluded that FCO2 laser could be a more effective and safer alternative to ILCs for treating AA.