Effectiveness and safety of 308 nm excimer laser versus intralesional triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of alopecia areata; A randomized control trial.

Proceedure:

Patients  will be randomised in two groups A and B

1. Group A : ILS ( triamcinolone acetonide 5 mg/ml ) given once in 4 weeks.
2. Group B : 308 nm Excimer laser given twice a week

Group A

• ILS ( triamcinolone acetonide 5 mg/ml ) given once in 4 weeks
• Initial visit - evaluation and inclusion into study
• Scalp will be adequately cleansed and degreased
• It is injected intradermal as 0.1 ml per sq.cm of involved skin
• Patients will be coming to the clinic at 4 weeks as per the schedule for subsequent injections at week 0,4,8 and 12 and follow up at week 16,20 and 24.
• Follow up photographs taken at week 0,4,8,12,16,20 and 24.
• Patient will be excluded from the study if he/ she delays for > 2 weeks

Group B

• 308 nm Excimer laser given twice a week
• Initial visit – evaluation, inclusion into study and  determination  of minimal erythema dose
• Following visit, treatment is started at a sub MED dose
• Subsequent irradiation dose  is increased  by 100 J/cm2 in next session till the endpoint is reached, which is 24 sittings or complete hair regrowth, whichever is earlier.

Assessment of hair regrowth

This takes into account extent and density of regrowth by the SALT scoring system. First note percent regrowth, then further categorise by:

• A0 = no change or further loss
• A1 = 1-24% regrowth
• A2 = 25-49% regrowth
• A3 = 50-74% regrowth
• A4 = 75-99% regrowth
• A5 = 100 % regrowth