Clinical Response and Time to Improvement with 308-nm Excimer Laser Therapy in Scarring Alopecia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This retrospective cohort study on 15 patients with scarring alopecia (SA) found that 308-nm excimer laser therapy may be an effective and well-tolerated adjunctive treatment, with 60% of patients reporting subjective improvement in hair appearance after an average of 3.4 months. Symptomatic improvements were observed in scalp pain (100%), burning (75%), and pruritus (50%) within 2 to 6 months, and clinical signs of inflammation improved in 83% of patients. Hair density and shaft caliber remained stable, indicating disease stabilization. While adverse effects were mild, the study's small sample size and retrospective nature limit the generalizability of the findings. The study suggests the need for larger, prospective studies to optimize treatment regimens and supports excimer therapy as a steroid-sparing, non-systemic option for SA.