Comparative Evaluation of Superficial Cryotherapy Versus Intralesional Triamcinolone in Alopecia Areata at a Tertiary Care Center: A Dermoscopic and Clinical Study in Middle-Aged Adults

The study compares superficial cryotherapy and intralesional triamcinolone (ILT) for treating alopecia areata (AA) in middle-aged adults. AA is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder causing nonscarring hair loss, affecting 1-2% of the population. ILT is commonly used due to its anti-inflammatory effects, while cryotherapy is noted for its nonpharmacological immunomodulatory mechanism. The study highlights that cryotherapy, although outpatient-friendly and low-cost, generally has lower efficacy than ILT, especially in rapidly progressive or longstanding AA patches. The role of cryotherapy in middle-aged patients, who may have more stable immune profiles, remains underexplored.