Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide Versus Topical Betamethasone Valerate in the Management of Localized Alopecia Areata

The study compared the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide and topical betamethasone valearate in treating localized alopecia areata. Conducted at PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi, from January to June 2013, it included 226 patients aged 18-50 years. Patients were divided into two groups: one received intralesional triamcinolone (10 mg/ml), and the other received topical betamethasone valearate cream 0.1% twice daily. After 12 weeks, hair re-growth was observed in 74.3% of the intralesional steroid group compared to 46.9% of the topical betamethasone group, a significant difference (p < 0.001). The study concluded that intralesional triamcinolone was more effective than topical betamethasone valearate for treating localized alopecia areata.