The Role of Fractional Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery in Enhancing the Efficacy of Topical Bimatoprost Solution in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: An Intra-Patient Comparative Randomized Clinical Trial

February 2024 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Simin Shamsi Meymandi, Alireza Safari, Manzumeh Shamsi Meymandi, Mahin Aflatoonian

fractional laser-assisted drug delivery topical bimatoprost solution alopecia areata fractional CO2 laser treatment hair regrowth monotherapy combination therapy bimatoprost CO2 laser

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Bimatoprost →

a synthetic prostamide used to treat eyelashes also shows promise for stimulating hair growth on scalp

Studysummary This clinical trial found that combining fractional CO2 laser with bimatoprost solution significantly improved alopecia areata treatment outcomes compared to bimatoprost alone, as measured by a more substantial reduction in SALT scores and higher patient satisfaction over 12 weeks. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study involved 20 patients with alopecia areata and compared the effectiveness of topical 0.03% bimatoprost solution alone and in combination with fractional CO2 laser treatment. The combination therapy group showed a superior outcome with a mean percentage of hair regrowth of 46.43% at the end of the study and 46.42% at the end of the follow-up period, compared to 21.16% and 16.11% respectively in the monotherapy group. After three months, 15% of cases in the combination therapy group showed excellent improvement, while none was observed in the bimatoprost group. Side effects were transient and decreased after a few days, with no significant difference between the two treatment groups. The study concluded that fractional CO2 laser-assisted drug delivery enhances the efficacy of topical bimatoprost solution in the treatment of alopecia areata.

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9 / 9 results

research Combined Microneedling With Topical Vitamin D3 or Bimatoprost Versus Microneedling Alone in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Comparative Randomized Trial

February 2023 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This study found that microneedling combined with either topical vitamin D3 or bimatoprost was more effective for hair regrowth in localized alopecia areata than microneedling alone, though differences between the two additives disappeared after three months.

research Transepidermal Delivery of Triamcinolone Acetonide or Platelet Rich Plasma Using Either Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser or Microneedling in Treatment of Alopecia Areata

October 2022 in “Dermatology practical & conceptual”

This study found that micro-needling with triamcinolone acetonide led to the best treatment outcomes for alopecia areata compared to other methods of trans-epidermal drug delivery.

research Treatments for Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

23 citations , February 2021 in “Dermatologic therapy”

This study found that pentoxifylline plus topical corticosteroids had the highest treatment success rate for alopecia areata compared to no treatment, but the best overall treatment remains uncertain due to varying data.

research Comparative Study Between Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser vs Intralesional Steroid Injection in Treatment of Alopecia Areata

18 citations , June 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

In this study, FCO2 laser treatment showed significantly better improvement for alopecia areata compared to traditional intralesional corticosteroid injections, with no serious side effects or relapse observed.

research The Rise of Transcutaneous Drug Delivery for the Management of Alopecia: A Review of Existing Literature and an Eye Towards the Future

9 citations , October 2018 in “Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy”

This study reviewed eight studies investigating transcutaneous drug delivery via fractional laser and microneedling for alopecia treatment, with six studies showing improved hair regrowth over topical therapy alone, suggesting its potential as a promising treatment strategy, although further research is needed to refine treatment parameters.

research A Review of Monochromatic Light Devices for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

28 citations , December 2017 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

This review assessed evidence on laser therapies for alopecia areata, reporting that the 308-nm excimer laser showed hair regrowth in several studies, while more research is needed for other laser types.

research Efficacy of Fractional Lasers in Treating Alopecia: A Literature Review

25 citations , August 2017 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

This literature review reported that fractional lasers, like the 1550-nm nonablative erbium-glass laser, may enhance hair regrowth by stimulating a wound healing process, but more randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm their effectiveness and optimize treatment parameters.

research Bimatoprost Versus Mometasone Furoate in the Treatment of Scalp Alopecia Areata: A Pilot Study

36 citations , January 2015 in “Dermatology”

In this study, bimatoprost solution showed better results than corticosteroid in terms of rapidity, percentage of hair regrowth, and side effects for treating scalp alopecia areata.

research Bimatoprost

3 citations , May 2014 in “Journal of the Egyptian Women's Dermatologic Society /Journal of the Egyptian Women's Dermatologic Society”

This study found that bimatoprost 0.03% solution may effectively reduce alopecia severity and promote cosmetically acceptable hair regrowth in some patients with scalp alopecia areata.