A Systematic Review on the Treatment of Pediatric Severe Alopecia Areata by Topical Immunotherapy, Anthralin, or Low-Level Light/Laser Therapy: Focus on Efficacy, Safety, Treatment Duration, Recurrence, and Follow-Up Based on Clinical Studies

October 2021 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Elham Behrangi, Masoumeh Roohaninasab, Afsaneh Sadeghzadeh‐Bazargan, Niloufar Najar Nobari, Mohammadreza Ghassemi, Farnoosh Seirafianpour, Azadeh Goodarzi, Milad Dodangeh

TLDR All three treatments help manage alopecia areata in children, but more research is needed for long-term effects.

The systematic review focused on evaluating the efficacy, safety, treatment duration, recurrence, and follow-up of pediatric severe alopecia areata treatments, specifically topical immunotherapy, Anthralin (contact sensitization), and low-level light/laser therapy (LLLT). The review analyzed clinical studies to determine the effectiveness of these treatments in children. It concluded that while all three treatments showed some level of efficacy in managing alopecia areata, there were variations in treatment duration and recurrence rates. Safety profiles were generally acceptable, but the review highlighted the need for more extensive studies to better understand long-term outcomes and optimize treatment protocols for pediatric patients.

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