308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of alopecia areata in children.
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common skin disease which is characterized by nonscarring localized or diffused hair loss. In this study we assessed the efficacy of 308-nm Excimer laser in the treatment of alopecia areata in children. A total of 9 children with 30 recalcitrant patches alopecia areata and two children with alopecia areata totalis were enrolled in this study which included seven male and four female patients, aged between 4 and 14 years and the durations of their disease were between 7 and 25 months. All of these patients had more than one lesion of alopecia areata and at least one of them was left as a control for comparison. The lesions were treated with the 308-nm Excimer laser twice a week for a period of 12 weeks. Regrowth of hair was observed in 18 (60%) alopecia patches in the scalp, while there was no response in the control patches and over the extremities. Only four patients with scalp lesions showed a recurrence of alopecia after 6 months post laser therapy. So, 308-nm Excimer laser is considered an effective safe therapeutic option for patchy alopecia areata in children.
Department of Dermatology, Farwaniya Hospital, Farwaniya, Kuwait. nalmut@usa.net
Nawaf
N
Al-Mutairi
D000293:Adolescent; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D001132:Arm; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D007866:Leg; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012535:Scalp; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome