Topical Immunotherapy of Severe Alopecia Areata with Diphenylcyclopropenone: Experience in an Iranian Population

May 2005 in “ BMC dermatology ”

Shahin Aghaei

diphenylcyclopropenone DPCP alopecia areata hair regrowth eczematous reactions occipital lymphadenopathy severe eczema blister formation hyperpigmentation

TLDR DPCP is effective for treating severe alopecia areata, but relapse is common.

The 2005 study investigated the effectiveness of diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) in treating severe alopecia areata in 54 Iranian patients. Results showed that 85% experienced significant hair regrowth, with 81.5% showing hair re-growth after 6-12 months of treatment. However, 50.9% of responders had partial recurrence within 6-12 months of follow-up. Side effects included eczematous reactions, occipital lymphadenopathy, severe eczema/blister formation, and hyperpigmentation. The study concluded that while DPCP is effective, it has a high relapse rate during maintenance treatment, marking the first experience with DPCP in Iran.

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Research cited in this study

8 / 8 results

research Restoration of Hair Growth with Topical Diphenylcyclopropenone in Mouse and Rat Models of Alopecia Areata

12 citations, November 2003 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Topical diphencyprone helped regrow hair in mice and rats with a condition similar to human hair loss.

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Some treatments can help with hair regrowth in alopecia areata, but results vary and long-term use is often needed without changing the disease's outcome.

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36 citations, June 1990 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Using minoxidil and anthralin together can improve hair regrowth in severe alopecia areata patients who didn't respond to individual treatments.

research Treatment-Resistant Alopecia Areata: Combination Therapy with Minoxidil and Anthralin

46 citations, June 1990 in “Archives of dermatology”

Combining 5% minoxidil and 0.5% anthralin can help regrow hair in some severe alopecia areata patients.

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109 citations, November 1987 in “Archives of dermatology”

Anthralin cream helped 25% of patients with severe alopecia areata regrow hair, but caused skin irritation.

research Topical Minoxidil Solution (1% and 5%) in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

101 citations, March 1987 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Minoxidil solution helps hair regrowth in alopecia areata, with 5% being more effective.

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Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.

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