Efficacy of intradermal minoxidil 5% injections for treatment of patchy non-severe alopecia areata.

BACKGROUND: Intradermal minoxidil is used as an off-label treatment for patchy non-severe alopecia areata (AA) either alone or in combination with steroids; however, studies estimating its efficacy are still lacking. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of intradermal delivery of minoxidil 5% alone and in combination with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide for treatment of patchy non-severe AA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred patches in twenty patients with patchy non-severe AA, five patches for each patient, were included in this prospective intra-patient comparative controlled clinical study. Four comparative patches per each patient were randomly assigned to receive 4 sessions, at a 4-week interval, of one of the following treatments: intralesional triamcinolone acetonide, intralesional minoxidil 5%, combination treatment, or micro-needling. The fifth patch was observed as the negative control. Treatment outcomes were assessed at baseline, and 1 month after treatment ends. RESULTS: Minoxidil intradermal injection was nearly comparable to the micro-needling effect and its combination to steroids had no additive effect. Hair regrowth in response to minoxidil occurred earlier than the spontaneous recovery. CONCLUSION: Monotherapy of intralesional minoxidil is of limited efficacy in treating non-severe patchy AA, but it speeds the recovery.