What treatments are available for extensive alopecia areata where greater than 50% hair is lost?
Cortisone injections. The most common treatment is the injection of cortisone into the bare skin patches. The injections are usually given by a dermatologist who uses a tiny needle to give multiple injections into the skin in and around the bare patches. The injections are repeated once a month. Both the needle prick and the slight tingling are usually well tolerated and there is no discomfort after leaving the doctor’s office. If new hair growth occurs, it is usually visible within four weeks. Treatment, however, does not prevent new patches from developing. There are few side effects from local cortisone injections. Occasionally, temporary depressions in the skin result from the local injections, but these “dells” usually fill in by themselves. Topical minoxidil. Five percent topical minoxidil solution applied twice daily may grow hair in alopecia areata. Scalp, eyebrows, and beard hair may respond. If scalp hair regrows completely, treatment can be stopped. Two percent topical minox
Related Questions
- What treatments are available for mild, patchy alopecia areata where less than 50 percent scalp hair is lost?
- What treatments are available for extensive alopecia areata where greater than 50 percent hair is lost?
- What treatments are available for extensive alopecia areata where greater than 50% hair is lost?
