Combination Therapy With Oral PUVA and Corticosteroid for Recalcitrant Alopecia Areata

    March 2009 in “ Archives of dermatological research ”
    Taisuke Ito, Masahiro Aoshima, Natsuho Ito, Izumi Uchiyama, Keiko Sakamoto, Tetsuya Kawamura, Hiroaki Yanagimoto, Hideo Hashizume, Masaharu Takigawa
    TLDR The combination of oral PUVA and corticosteroids helps regrow hair in severe alopecia areata.
    The study investigated the effectiveness of a combination therapy using oral corticosteroids and oral PUVA for treating severe alopecia areata (AA), specifically alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU). Patients received 20 mg/day of corticosteroids and whole-body UVA irradiation 2 hours after taking methoxsalen for 1 month. All patients experienced regrowth of terminal hair on the scalp within 2 months, although two patients relapsed 3 months post-treatment. The therapy increased the population of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and decreased the number of infiltrating cells in the skin lesions, suggesting an immune-modulating effect that contributed to the improvement of recalcitrant AA.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    4 / 4 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community Oral fin/min/biotin Stack 2 month progress pics

      in Progress Pictures  13 upvotes 5 days ago
      The conversation is about a user's progress with an oral treatment for hair loss using a stack of finasteride, minoxidil, and biotin over two months, noting stabilization after an initial shed. The user mentions using Hims Chews, which are effective but costly, and another user comments that biotin is ineffective.

      community Do you think oral minoxidil will become the standard for hair loss in 2026?

      in Minoxidil  142 upvotes 1 week ago
      Oral minoxidil is considered more convenient and effective for some users, with positive results reported, but concerns about side effects and availability persist. Finasteride remains a standard treatment, while some users explore combinations with other treatments like dutasteride and laser devices.

      community Oral min to topical? Dut to fin?

      in Minoxidil  6 upvotes 1 week ago
      The user is considering switching from oral to topical minoxidil and possibly adding finasteride, while continuing with dutasteride and incorporating microneedling to improve hair loss treatment. They are concerned about potential shedding during the transition.

      community Oral Min/Fin & Topical Min (November 2024 - January 2026)

      in Treatment  46 upvotes 2 weeks ago
      The user followed a hair loss treatment routine using liquid minoxidil, oral minoxidil, and oral finasteride, with plans to stop topical minoxidil by mid-2026. They experienced significant improvement, especially in the crown area, after starting oral minoxidil.

      community Thoughts about ORAL ketoconazole? (pills)

      in Ketoconazole 3 weeks ago
      Oral ketoconazole is discussed as a potential hair loss treatment, but it poses significant health risks like liver damage and adrenal insufficiency. Users suggest safer alternatives like topical anti-androgens or spironolactone, emphasizing the importance of consulting a specialist.

    Related Research

    3 / 3 results