TLDR Combining triamcinolone acetonide with immunotherapy can help regrow hair in some alopecia totalis patients.
The study evaluated the combination of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injections and immunotherapy (SADBE or DPCP) in treating alopecia totalis (AT) with body hair loss in 10 patients (1 male, 9 females, aged 12-43) who did not initially respond to immunotherapy. Monthly TA injections resulted in a 10% complete response rate and a 60% partially good response rate. Good responders exhibited hair follicle anagen stages and vellus hair development, enhancing susceptibility to subsequent immunotherapy and leading to more hair regrowth. Although the complete response rate was low, the combination therapy showed potential for hair cycle recovery in AT patients.
44 citations,
April 2017 in “International Journal of Dermatology” No treatment is completely effective for alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.
238 citations,
November 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Tofacitinib is effective and safe for severe hair loss, but full regrowth is less likely after 10 years of hair loss.
15 citations,
April 2016 in “The Journal of Dermatology” Multiple courses of pulse corticosteroid therapy improve hair growth in alopecia areata patients with minimal side effects.
11 citations,
May 2013 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Hydroxychloroquine helped two people regrow hair lost from alopecia totalis.
218 citations,
April 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Guidelines suggest various treatments for alopecia areata, but leaving it untreated is also an option as 80% cases may recover on their own.
148 citations,
December 2018 in “Journal of autoimmunity” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.
November 2016 in “대한피부과학회지” The document's conclusion cannot be summarized as it is not provided in a language I can understand.
