Radiation-Induced Alopecia Treated with Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection

October 2014 in “ Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open ”

Moo Yeol Hyun, Beom Joon Kim, Chang-Jin Lee, Jae Wook Kim

radiation-induced alopecia botulinum toxin type A triamcinolone acetonide excimer laser vellus hairs hair follicles Botox

TLDR Botulinum toxin type A injections improved hair growth and scalp health in a woman with radiation-induced hair loss.

A 65-year-old woman with radiation-induced alopecia showed limited response to initial treatments with triamcinolone acetonide and excimer laser. Subsequently, she received botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) injections every 3 months for 12 months. After 3 months, sparse vellus hairs appeared, and after 12 months, hair density and thickness improved, and the scalp appeared healthier. The mechanism behind BTXA-induced hair growth remained unclear, but it was speculated that BTXA might relieve muscle tension and increase blood flow around hair follicles. Despite some positive outcomes, the efficacy of BTXA for alopecia remained controversial and required further study.

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Research cited in this study

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