Ann Dermatol.  2017 Dec;29(6):722-727. 10.5021/ad.2017.29.6.722.

Therapeutic Effect of Superficial Cryotherapy on Alopecia Areata: A Prospective, Split-scalp Study in Patients with Multiple Alopecia Patches

• Jun M
• Lee WS

• KMID: 2395179
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2017.29.6.722

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata (AA) affects anagen hair follicles resulting in non-scarring hair loss. Since its introduction, superficial cryotherapy has been used as one of the meaningful treatment modalities for AA.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to clarify the therapeutic efficacy and safety of superficial cryotherapy for treatment of AA.
METHODS
In 19 patients with multiple bilateral AA patches on their scalp, superficial cryotherapy was performed on the right side, every 2 weeks. Prednicarbate 0.25% solution was applied twice a day to both the treated and the control sides. Clinical improvement was estimated using the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score by 3 different dermatologists, along with the changes in terminal and vellus hair count and hair thickness analyzed by phototrichogram.
RESULTS
After 4 months of treatment, mean terminal hair count on the right scalp was 1.6-fold increased (p=0.005), while mean terminal hair count on the left scalp showed no significant change (110.1% increase, p=0.285). Mean SALT score decrease on the right was 4-fold greater than that on the left (40.7% and 9.6%), without statistical significance (p=0.282). Mean vellus hair count and mean hair thickness did not show significant changes after superficial cryotherapy. No remarkable adverse event was observed.
CONCLUSION
Superficial cryotherapy is an efficacious treatment modality with advantages of simplicity and noninvasiveness. It can be considered as a meaningful therapeutic modality for AA, especially when the disease status is limited to minimal to mild, or the conventional AA treatment is not applicable.

Keyword

Alopecia areata; Prospective studies; Split-scalp; Superficial cryotherapy

MeSH Terms

Alopecia Areata*
Alopecia*
Cryotherapy*
Hair
Hair Follicle
Humans
Prospective Studies*
Scalp

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Change of the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score on the treated and control side of the scalp, according as the investigator. Decrease of the SALT score in the treated and control side was statistically not significance (p>0.05).

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  Fig. 2 Clinical improvement and changes in phototrichograms in patients with alopecia areata after 4 months of superficial cryotherapy on the treated side of the scalp. Rt.: right, Lt.: left.

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  Fig. 3 Comparison of the mean terminal hair count on the (A) treated and (B) control side of the scalp. Mean terminal hair count on the treated side of the scalp increased from 95.6 to 159.5 (*p=0.005). No significant difference was observed on the control side (p=0.285).

• 

  Fig. 4 Comparison of the mean vellus hair count on the (A) treated and (B) control side of the scalp. No significant changes were observed on either side (p=0.066 and p=0.123, respectively).

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  Fig. 5 Comparison of the mean hair caliber on the (A) treated and (B) control side of the scalp. No significant changes were observed on either side (p=0.185 and p=0.610, respectively).

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