Combined Corticosteroid and Minoxidil Therapy for Early Recovery in Radiation-Induced Alopecia: A Case Report

    June 2025 in “ Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology ”
    Xi Chen, Yutong Xie, Aihua Wei
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    TLDR Combining corticosteroids and minoxidil can quickly regrow hair lost from radiation.
    This case report describes a 42-year-old man who developed radiation-induced alopecia after undergoing endovascular embolization for a cerebral arteriovenous fistula. The patient experienced a significant patch of hair loss on his scalp, which was treated with a combination of intramuscular corticosteroid injections and topical 5% minoxidil. This treatment led to complete hair regrowth within one month, faster than typical recovery times for radiation-induced alopecia. The report highlights this as the first successful use of combined corticosteroid and minoxidil therapy for this condition, suggesting it as a potential alternative treatment strategy for similar cases.
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