Topical Cyclosporine in Alopecia Areata

A 23-year-old man with alopecia universalis, who previously experienced hair regrowth with oral corticosteroids followed by hair loss upon cessation, was treated with a topical cyclosporine lotion. The lotion contained 250 mg of cyclosporine in a mixture of isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, and distilled water, applied daily. After 10 months of treatment, hair regrowth was observed, except on a congenital nevus on the vertex of his scalp. This case suggested that topical cyclosporine could potentially induce hair regrowth in alopecia universalis, although the response time was lengthy.