Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Combination Therapy with Diphenylcyclopropenone and Platelet-Rich Plasma in Alopecia Areata

January 2025 in “ International Journal of Trichology ”

Robabeh Abedini, Azadeh Rezayat, Narges Ghandi, Aida Varghaei, Mojtaba Sedaghat, Hamidreza Mahmoudi

diphenylcyclopropenone platelet-rich plasma alopecia areata Severity of Alopecia Tool dermatitis DPCP PRP SALT score

From the encyclopedia

Platelet-Rich Plasma →

growth factors taken from your blood and injected into your scalp to stimulate hair

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Studysummary This study found that adding PRP to DPCP treatment for severe alopecia areata did not enhance effectiveness compared to DPCP alone.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

This randomized controlled trial investigated the efficacy of combining diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in treating severe alopecia areata in 18 patients, with 14 completing the study. The findings revealed no significant difference in hair regrowth between the DPCP plus PRP group and the DPCP plus placebo group, as measured by the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score. Both groups experienced a decrease in SALT scores over time, but the therapeutic responses were not significantly different. The study concluded that the combination of DPCP and PRP did not offer additional benefits over DPCP alone, and only mild dermatitis and tolerable pain were reported as adverse effects. The study suggests the need for larger studies to explore the potential additive efficacy of PRP and DPCP.

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Research cited in this study

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