Local Corticosteroids for Alopecia Areata: A Narrative Review

May 2025 in “ Dermatology and Therapy ”

Samantha Gregoire, Basil McIntosh, Katherine Sanchez, Ursula Biba, Arash Mostaghimi

alopecia areata autoimmune condition non-scarring hair loss topical corticosteroids intralesional corticosteroids IL corticosteroids dermis treatment regimens combination therapy AA local corticosteroids

Studysummary This review discusses the use of topical and intralesional corticosteroids for treating alopecia areata, highlighting their efficacy and safety but noting recurrence and pain as limitations; no new clinical results are reported. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition affecting 2% of the global population, characterized by non-scarring hair loss. The review discusses the use of topical and intralesional (IL) corticosteroids as common treatments for AA. Topical corticosteroids are safe and moderately effective for mild AA, especially in children and adults who cannot tolerate IL injections, but hair loss often recurs after stopping treatment. IL corticosteroids are more effective than topical ones due to their ability to penetrate the dermis, showing higher success rates in mild-to-moderate AA, though the procedure can be painful. The review highlights the need for further research on treatment regimens, long-term safety, candidate selection, and combination therapy to better define the role of local corticosteroids in managing AA.

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