Skin Cancer in Patients Treated With Photobiomodulation for Alopecia: A Retrospective Chart Review

The retrospective chart review titled "Skin cancer in patients treated with photobiomodulation for alopecia" conducted by Angela Wipf et al. examined the risk of skin cancer in alopecia patients treated with photobiomodulation (PBM). The study used electronic medical record data from an academic dermatology clinic from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017. The study included 204 patients (192 females, 12 males, age range 16-90, mean age 52.8 years) who used PBM in at least two encounters. The most common alopecia diagnosis was androgenetic alopecia. The treatment time ranged from 0-96 months (mean 26.4). The study found no identifiable increased risk of skin cancer when PBM was used in alopecia patients within one academic health center. Only two cutaneous malignancies developed on or near the scalp during the treatment period.