Phase I/II Randomized Bilateral Half-Head Comparison of Topical Bexarotene 1% Gel for Alopecia Areata

The study evaluated the safety and efficacy of 1% bexarotene gel for treating alopecia areata through a phase I/II randomized, half-head trial involving 42 patients (11 male, 31 female) over 24 weeks. Results showed that 12% of patients experienced 50% or more partial hair regrowth on the treated side, and 14% on both sides, including 3 complete responders. Mild irritation was reported in 31 patients, with 4 experiencing grade-3 irritation. The study concluded that topical bexarotene 1% gel was well tolerated and potentially effective, recommending a randomized placebo-controlled trial for further validation.