TLDR Higher doses of prednisone and triamcinolone acetonide successfully treated 8 out of 10 alopecia totalis patients.
In a letter to the editor, the author argued that the dosages recommended by Dr. Orentreich for treating alopecia were inadequate. The author suggested starting treatment with at least 30 mg of prednisone per day, tapering to 10-15 mg/day over a month, and adjusting as needed. Additionally, intralesional steroids should be used to minimize systemic treatment, with 3 ml of a 3.33-mg/ml solution of triamcinolone acetonide administered every 2-3 weeks. The author reported successful treatment of two patients with alopecia totalis and subsequently treated a total of ten patients, eight of whom responded positively.
28 citations,
October 1978 in “Archives of dermatology” Corticosteroids may effectively regrow hair in Alopecia Totalis with manageable side effects.
34 citations,
April 2009 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy” Some treatments work for common baldness, but there's less evidence for other hair loss types, and more research is needed.
3 citations,
January 2015 in “Nasza Dermatologia Online” Some treatments for autoimmune hair loss work, but JAK inhibitors like tofacitinib are promising for regrowth.
35 citations,
May 2012 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy” The document concludes that there are various treatments for different types of alopecia, but more research is needed for evidence-based treatments.
17 citations,
August 2015 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy” The document concludes that oral finasteride and topical minoxidil are effective for genetic hair loss, while other treatments for different types of hair loss show promise but need more research.
