A Study on the Efficacy of 308 nm Excimer Light Therapy in Alopecia Areata

The study assessed 30 patients with alopecia areata (AA) to determine the effectiveness of 308 nm excimer light therapy on hair regrowth. Each patient's AA patch was partially treated with the therapy while the other half served as a control. Treatments were given twice weekly, with the initial dose set at 300 mJ/cm² and increased until erythema was observed. At the end of the treatment period, only one patient (3.33%) showed more than 50% hair regrowth at the treated site. After two months, 40% of patients had significant hair regrowth at the treated site, and after four months, this increased to 53.33%, with both results being statistically significant (p < 0.05). The study concluded that 308 nm excimer light therapy could potentially be effective in stimulating hair regrowth in AA, with a delayed response, and recommended larger trials for further investigation. No serious side effects were reported, and no recurrence of hair loss was observed during the follow-up period.