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- Title
Superficial Cryotherapy versus Intralesional Corticosteroids Injection in Alopecia Areata: A Trichoscopic Comparative Study.
- Authors
El Sayed, Mahira Hamdy; Ibrahim, Nour El-dissouki; Afify, Ahmed Abdelfattah
- Abstract
Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease leading to noncicatricial alopecia. Topical or intralesional corticosteroid (ILCS) is the accepted therapeutic option for mild cases; however, adverse effects are sometimes difficult to reverse. When the exposure to liquefied nitrogen is limited to a few seconds "superficial" cryotherapy, reactive vasodilation may improve microcirculation and nutritional status around hair follicles. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare superficial cryotherapy and ILCS in the treatment of patchy AA. Materials and Methods: This prospective comparative study included 21 patients with patchy AA. Every patient received superficial cryotherapy on one patch, every 2 weeks for 3 months, and ILCS injection for another patch, once monthly for 3 months. Results: Clinical improvement was higher in cryotherapy group compared to ILCS group with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.002). On trichoscopic evaluation, terminal hair count was improved in lesions treated with cryotherapy more than lesions treated with ILCS but without statistical significance (P = 0.595) and vellus hair count was improved in lesions treated with cryotherapy more than lesions treated with ILCS with a statistical significance (P = 0.002). Conclusions: Cryotherapy is more effective and less painful than ILCS in the treatment of patchy AA.
- Subjects
ALOPECIA areata; COLD therapy; HAIR follicles; CORTICOSTEROIDS; COMPARATIVE studies
- Publication
International Journal of Trichology, 2022, Vol 14, Issue 1, p8
- ISSN
0974-7753
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.4103/ijt.ijt_130_20