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Laser treatments not associated with increased hair count in alopecia

Treatment for alopecia areata with a neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser or a fractional carbon dioxide laser did not increase hair count when compared with a control patch, according to recently published study results.

Researchers in Turkey studied 32 patients (19 men, mean age, 24.22 years) with alopecia areata including the scalp. The patients had a median disease duration of 36 months, and were refractory to at least two different convention alopecia areata treatments.

Hair counts were taken on three patches on the scalp. One patch served as the control with no laser application performed. A neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (Laserscope Lyrai) with a pulse duration of 30 milliseconds and an energy of 10 J/cm² was applied to the second patch at 2 to 8 week intervals for two or three sessions. The third patch was treated with a fractional carbon dioxide laser (eCO₂; Lutronic) with a power of 30 W, 120 µm probe diameter, pulse energy range of 10 to 45 mJ/cm² and density range of 75 to 100 spot/cm²/pass at 2 to 4 week intervals for three to six sessions.

Hair count calculated with a digital phototrichogram was used as mean outcome measure. At least a 25% increase in the mean hair count at the treated patch compared with the control patch was used to define response.

The three patches had similar initial mean hair counts, and there was no statistically significant difference in hair count between the three patches at the end of the study period. Seven patients (22%) had an increase of mean hair count on the whole scalp, including the control patch area. The final median Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scoring system was 33, with no statistically significant difference compared with the initial median SALT score. SALT score improvement was observed in the seven patients.

“Nd:YAG or fractional carbon dioxide lasers with the parameters used in this study did not induce response in long-standing and treatment refractory scalp [alopecia areata],” the researchers concluded. “Further studies with different laser parameters or different laser sources may be interesting.” – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.