TLDR Narrowband UVB phototherapy alone is not very effective for treating alopecia areata.
The study assessed the efficacy of narrowband ultraviolet B (NB UVB) phototherapy in treating alopecia areata (AA) in 25 patients. Initial hair regrowth was observed in 60% of patients after an average of 18 sessions. However, only 24% achieved an excellent response, and the majority had less than 50% hair regrowth. The study found that NB UVB alone was not highly effective, with better results seen in patients who also received corticosteroid injections. The findings suggested that NB UVB's role in AA treatment is limited and further randomized controlled trials are needed to compare its efficacy with other treatments like PUVA.
244 citations,
January 2010 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” The document says current treatments for alopecia areata do not cure or prevent it, and it's hard to judge their effectiveness due to spontaneous remission and lack of studies.
24 citations,
March 2009 in “Archives of dermatological research” The combination of oral PUVA and corticosteroids helps regrow hair in severe alopecia areata.
182 citations,
October 2003 in “British Journal of Dermatology” The 2003 guidelines suggest that while some treatments can regrow hair in alopecia areata, none alter the disease's progression, and wigs may be the best option for extensive hair loss.
16 citations,
November 2016 in “Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy” Laser and light therapies, especially the 308 nm excimer laser, are effective and safe for treating alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
April 2024 in “Medical & clinical research” More research is needed to find the best long-term treatments for Alopecia Areata.
3 citations,
August 2020 in “PubMed” Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is effective in treating various skin conditions and improving hair density, thickness, and patient satisfaction, with lower relapse rates for Alopecia Areata.
3 citations,
August 2018 in “Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management” Corticosteroid therapy for alopecia areata can cause severe hip bone damage.
January 2016 in “Springer eBooks” Alopecia Areata is an unpredictable autoimmune hair loss condition with limited and variable treatment effectiveness.
