Topical Nitrogen Mustard in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Bilateral Comparison Study

    August 2003 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Olga Bernardo, Lisa Tang, Harvey Lui, Jerry Shapiro
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    TLDR Nitrogen mustard was not very effective for hair regrowth in alopecia areata and has potential skin cancer risk.
    In a study from 2003, 10 patients with significant alopecia areata were treated with 0.02% topical nitrogen mustard on one half of their scalp. Only 6 patients completed the 16-week trial, and of those, just 1 patient showed significant hair regrowth, with the Hair Growth Index increasing from 10 to 150 on the treated side. One patient had a contact hypersensitivity reaction, but all participants maintained normal blood cell counts. The study suggested that mechlorethamine might have an immunomodulatory effect on T cells, but also noted the risk of skin cancer with long-term use, making it a less than ideal treatment for alopecia areata. Further research was recommended to investigate higher concentrations or longer treatment times and to better understand the treatment's mechanisms.
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