Combination Therapy With CGF and Microneedling-Assisted Compound Betamethasone for Resistant Alopecia Areata: A Pilot Study.

Publisher: Blackwell Science Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101130964 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1473-2165 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14732130 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Cosmet Dermatol Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Oxford, UK : Blackwell Science, c2002-

Alopecia Areata*/therapy ; Alopecia Areata*/drug therapy ; Betamethasone*/administration & dosage ; Betamethasone*/adverse effects ; Glucocorticoids*/administration & dosage ; Glucocorticoids*/adverse effects ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*/administration & dosage ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*/adverse effects ; Drug Delivery Systems*/instrumentation ; Drug Delivery Systems*/methods ; Dry Needling*/methods ; Dry Needling*/adverse effects ; Dry Needling*/instrumentation; Combined Modality Therapy/methods ; Combined Modality Therapy/adverse effects ; Hair/growth & development ; Hair/drug effects ; Humans ; Pilot Projects ; Adult ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Young Adult ; Percutaneous Collagen Induction

Background: Alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disorder characterized by hair loss, can be particularly difficult to manage when patients do not respond to standard therapeutic approaches such as topical or injectable corticosteroids, contact immunotherapy, and systemic treatments. In instances where these conventional therapies prove ineffective, alternative or adjunctive treatments are sought. Concentrated growth factor (CGF) and microneedling (MN)-assisted drug delivery are promising methods for the treatment of different dermatological diseases.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the practical benefits and the safety aspects of utilizing a dual treatment approach involving CGF and MN-assisted compound betamethasone for patients suffering from resistant AA that are unresponsive to conventional medical interventions.
Material and Methods: This retrospective study was based on evaluations of seven patients with refractory AA treated with CGF and MN-assisted compound betamethasone from July 2021 to December 2023. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by extents of hair regrowth percentages of involved areas.
Results: Among the seven enrolled patients with refractory AA, a notable outcome was observed where one patient (14.3%) achieved a regrowth of hair by over 50%, while six patients (85.7%) exhibited complete recovery without any systemic or local adverse effects. Furthermore, the difference in SALT scores between baseline, and the final visit for all patients was found to be statistically significant, substantiating the therapeutic efficacy of the intervention employed.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the synergistic application of CGF in conjunction with MN-assisted compound betamethasone may constitute a promising and well-tolerated therapeutic modality for refractory AA, offering a potentially efficacious and safe treatment alternative.
(© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

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Keywords: alopecia; concentrated growth factor; microneedling; resistant alopecia areata

9842X06Q6M (Betamethasone)
0 (Glucocorticoids)
0 (Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins)

Date Created: 20240921 Date Completed: 20250424 Latest Revision: 20250515

20260130

PMC11742920

10.1111/jocd.16591

39305097