Fractional CO2 Laser and Minoxidil in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Comparative Study

January 2025 in “ Lasers in Surgery and Medicine ”

Esraa E. El‐Hawary, Naeim Mohamed Abdelnaby, Ghada Fawzy Rezk, Asmaa Mohamed Qandil

fractional CO2 laser minoxidil alopecia areata topical minoxidil 5% solution Rogaine

TLDR Combining fractional CO2 laser with minoxidil is more effective for hair growth in alopecia areata than minoxidil alone.

The study evaluated the effectiveness of combining fractional CO2 laser with topical minoxidil 5% solution versus using minoxidil alone in treating alopecia areata (AA). It involved 150 patients divided into three groups: 60 received minoxidil, 60 received the combination treatment, and 30 were given a placebo. Results showed significant hair growth improvement in both treatment groups compared to the placebo. In the combination group, 80% of patients experienced excellent improvement, while in the minoxidil group, 53% saw excellent results. Side effects were minimal and transient, suggesting that both treatments are safe and tolerable for AA.

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