Comparative Study Between Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser vs Intralesional Steroid Injection in Treatment of Alopecia Areata

This study compared the effectiveness and safety of Fractional Carbon Dioxide (FCO2) laser treatment to traditional intralesional corticosteroids (ILCs) for alopecia areata (AA) in 20 patients. Each patient had two patches of AA, with one treated by FCO2 laser every 2 weeks for 3 to 6 sessions, and the other with intradermal Triamcinolone Acetonide injections monthly for up to three sessions. Results showed a highly significant improvement in the FCO2 laser-treated patches in terms of Mean Improvement Score (MISP), patient satisfaction, and hair density 3 months after the last session, without serious side effects or relapse. The study concluded that FCO2 laser could be a better therapeutic alternative for treating AA compared to traditional ILCs.