Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata with Intralesional Steroid Injections

    October 2009 in “ PubMed ”
    Kyung Hee Chang, Salinee Rojhirunsakool, Lynne J. Goldberg
    From the encyclopedia
    Alopecia Areata →

    autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

    Triamcinolone Acetonide →
    Studysummary This study reports that intralesional triamcinolone acetonide was effective and well-tolerated for treating extensive alopecia areata in patients who often showed specific initial hair characteristics.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    The study reviewed the treatment of extensive alopecia areata (over 50% but under 99% scalp involvement) with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections. Out of 10 patients, 6 responded positively to the treatment, particularly those with exclamation mark hairs and a positive hair pull test. Complications were minimal, with only mild reversible atrophy in 3 patients. The treatment was well tolerated, and pain was reduced using a topical anesthetic. The study concluded that intralesional triamcinolone acetonide is a safe and effective treatment for extensive alopecia areata, especially in patients showing specific initial physical examination signs.
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