Possible advantage of imiquimod and diphenylcyclopropenone combined treatment versus diphenylcyclopropenone alone: An observational study of nonresponder patients with alopecia areata

In a study from April 17, 2016, researchers investigated the effectiveness of combining imiquimod with diphenylcyclopropenone (DCP) in treating nonresponder patients with alopecia areata (AA), who did not respond to DCP alone due to a lack of allergic reaction. The study included 20 nonresponder patients, with 10 receiving a combination of DCP and topical imiquimod, and the other 10 receiving only DCP. The results showed a significantly better therapeutic outcome in the group treated with both DCP and imiquimod compared to the group treated with DCP alone. The study suggested that imiquimod might improve the prognosis in AA patients who do not respond to DCP treatment, potentially through a mechanism involving interleukin-12.