Topical Tacrolimus, Clobetasol, and Minoxidil for Primary Cicatricial Alopecias: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Safety

    August 2025 in “ Skin Appendage Disorders ”
    Anna Brinks, Caitlin A. Kearney, Carli D. Needle, Akshay Pulavarty, Alberto Spindler, D. Maas, Loren D. Krueger, Kristen I. Lo Sicco, Jerry Shapiro
    TLDR TCM is an effective and safe treatment for primary cicatricial alopecias.
    This retrospective analysis evaluated the safety and efficacy of a topical combination of tacrolimus, clobetasol, and minoxidil (TCM) in 82 patients with primary cicatricial alopecias (PCAs), primarily frontal fibrosing alopecia or lichen planopilaris. The study found that TCM, typically used 1-2 times daily for an average of 24.5 months, was well-tolerated, with 62.2% of patients experiencing no adverse effects. Improvements were noted in provider-assessed inflammation and disease status in 69.5% and 76.9% of patients, respectively, along with enhanced objective hair measurements. The findings suggest that TCM is an effective treatment option for PCAs, either alone or alongside other therapies.
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      community Androgenetic alopecia is a skin disease: DHT-mediated skin disorders

      in Research/Science  64 upvotes 2 years ago
      Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) impacts various skin conditions, including Androgenetic alopecia and seborrheic dermatitis, by causing overactivity in sebaceous glands. Topical medications Tacrolimus and Clobetasol can reduce these inflammatory conditions, and treatments like RU58841, Minoxidil, and Finasteride may also be beneficial.

      community Just find a cure already, I am totally done

      in Chat  161 upvotes 1 year ago
      The conversation is about hair loss treatments, with users recommending finasteride and minoxidil as effective solutions. Some users report side effects, but overall, the consensus is to use these treatments rather than waiting for a cure.
      If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      in Research  830 upvotes 1 year ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community Help! Minoxidil or Duta to avoid Shed of long hair.

      in Female  7 upvotes 1 year ago
      The user is considering using Tacrolimus Solution and topical Dutasteride to avoid shedding caused by Minoxidil, which they fear may lead to facial side effects. They are also concerned about scalp sensitivity and are exploring different treatment bases to manage seborrheic dermatitis.

      community I had claude create a protocol only using fda approved drugs.

      in Research/Science  1 upvotes 6 days ago
      A new hair loss protocol using FDA-approved topical treatments targets eight pathways, potentially improving results by 60-75% compared to the standard 40-50% from oral minoxidil and finasteride. The protocol includes minoxidil, finasteride, tacrolimus, cetirizine, bimatoprost, lithium gluconate, losartan, melatonin, NAC, caffeine, and tretinoin, with a monthly cost of $35-50 in Mexico and $80-150 in the US.

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