Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of Topical Mometasone 0.1% Ointment, Calcipotriol 0.005% Ointment, and Tacrolimus 0.1% Ointment in Patients with Localized Alopecia Areata: A Triple-Arm Randomized Clinical Study

February 2025 in “ Indian Dermatology Online Journal ”

Farheen Begum, Sasmita Mishra, Ajaya Kumar Jena, Maitreyee Panda

mometasone calcipotriol tacrolimus alopecia areata topical treatment

TLDR Calcipotriol is the safest and most effective for hair regrowth in localized alopecia areata.

This study involved 86 patients and compared the efficacy and safety of three topical treatments for localized alopecia areata (AA): mometasone 0.1% ointment, calcipotriol 0.005% ointment, and tacrolimus 0.1% ointment. Mometasone and calcipotriol both significantly improved hair regrowth and quality of life, with calcipotriol having the least side effects, making it the safer option. Tacrolimus did not show significant improvements and is not recommended as a first-line treatment. The study suggests further research is needed due to the lack of a control group and long-term follow-up.

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Research cited in this study

12 / 12 results

research The Efficacy and Safety of JAK Inhibitors for Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

37 citations, August 2022 in “Frontiers in pharmacology”

Oral JAK inhibitors are effective and safe for treating alopecia areata but may need ongoing use to keep results.

Efficacy and Safety of Topical Calcipotriol 0.005% Versus Topical Clobetasol 0.05% in the Management of Alopecia Areata: An Intrasubject Pilot Study

research Efficacy and Safety of Topical Calcipotriol 0.005% Versus Topical Clobetasol 0.05% in the Management of Alopecia Areata: An Intrasubject Pilot Study

10 citations, April 2020 in “Dermatology and therapy”

Calcipotriol works almost as well as clobetasol for mild to moderate alopecia areata with fewer side effects.

research Comparative Study of Efficacy of Topical Mometasone with Calcipotriol Versus Mometasone Alone in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

9 citations, January 2019 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Combining calcipotriol with mometasone is more effective for treating alopecia areata than using mometasone alone.

research Treatment of Alopecia Areata: An Australian Expert Consensus Statement

95 citations, November 2018 in “Australasian journal of dermatology”

Alopecia areata treatment varies, with no optimal method established yet.

Use of Adapalene in Alopecia Areata: Efficacy and Safety of Mometasone Furoate 0.1% Cream Versus Combination of Mometasone Furoate 0.1% Cream and Adapalene 0.1% Gel in Alopecia Areata

research Use of Adapalene in Alopecia Areata: Efficacy and Safety of Mometasone Furoate 0.1% Cream Versus Combination of Mometasone Furoate 0.1% Cream and Adapalene 0.1% Gel in Alopecia Areata

6 citations, November 2017 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Combining mometasone furoate cream with adapalene gel is safer and more effective for hair regrowth in alopecia areata than using the cream alone.

research Efficacy and Safety of Topical Calcipotriol in Management of Alopecia Areata: A Pilot Study

39 citations, January 2017 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Topical calcipotriol may help treat alopecia areata, especially in those with low vitamin D.

research Topical Calcipotriol Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Study

38 citations, June 2015 in “PubMed”

Calcipotriol cream can effectively and safely treat mild-to-moderate patchy hair loss.

research Bimatoprost Versus Mometasone Furoate in the Treatment of Scalp Alopecia Areata: A Pilot Study

36 citations, January 2015 in “Dermatology”

Bimatoprost was found to be safer and more effective than mometasone furoate for treating scalp hair loss.

Randomized Comparison of Topical Betamethasone Valerate Foam, Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide, and Tacrolimus Ointment in Management of Localized Alopecia Areata

research Randomized Comparison of Topical Betamethasone Valerate Foam, Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide, and Tacrolimus Ointment in Management of Localized Alopecia Areata

48 citations, January 2011 in “International journal of trichology”

Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide is the most effective treatment for localized alopecia areata.

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research Twenty Nail Dystrophy with Alopecia Areata in an Atopic Child

April 2019 in “International journal of research in dermatology”

A child with rough nails also had hair loss and allergies.

Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of Topical Mometasone 0.1% Ointment, Calcipotriol 0.005% Ointment, and Tacrolimus 0.1% Ointment in Patients with Localized Alopecia Areata: A Triple-Arm Randomized Clinical Study

Research cited in this study

research The Efficacy and Safety of JAK Inhibitors for Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

research Efficacy and Safety of Topical Calcipotriol 0.005% Versus Topical Clobetasol 0.05% in the Management of Alopecia Areata: An Intrasubject Pilot Study

research Comparative Study of Efficacy of Topical Mometasone with Calcipotriol Versus Mometasone Alone in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

research Treatment of Alopecia Areata: An Australian Expert Consensus Statement

research Use of Adapalene in Alopecia Areata: Efficacy and Safety of Mometasone Furoate 0.1% Cream Versus Combination of Mometasone Furoate 0.1% Cream and Adapalene 0.1% Gel in Alopecia Areata

research Efficacy and Safety of Topical Calcipotriol in Management of Alopecia Areata: A Pilot Study

research Topical Calcipotriol Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Study

research Bimatoprost Versus Mometasone Furoate in the Treatment of Scalp Alopecia Areata: A Pilot Study

research Randomized Comparison of Topical Betamethasone Valerate Foam, Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide, and Tacrolimus Ointment in Management of Localized Alopecia Areata

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research Alopecia in the United States: Outpatient Utilization and Common Prescribing Patterns

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