Efficacy and Safety of Erbium YAG Laser in Treatment of Alopecia Areata Versus Its Combination with Topical Triamcinolone Solution

نویسندگان

1 Kurdistan Higher Council of Medical Specialties, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

2 College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

doi
10.48309/jmcs.2026.549887.2878
چکیده

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease characterized by non-scarring hair loss, affecting approximately 2% of the population. The pathophysiology involves immune system dysregulation targeting hair follicles. Traditional treatments such as corticosteroids have been first-line options, but recent approvals of Janus kinase inhibitors offer new alternatives. Erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet lasers, known for their efficacy in dermatological applications, have shown promise in alopecia areata by stimulating hair regrowth through mechanisms such as activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and enhancing drug absorption. This interventional study involved 32 patients with patchy alopecia areata on the scalp or beard, excluding severe cases. In each patient, the patches of alopecia were divided into two groups: group A, treated with erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser alone 2,940 nanometers, 5 joule/centimeter square, 0.5 hertz; and group B, treated with erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser combined with topical triamcinolone. A total four sessions were conducted at 3-week intervals, with outcomes assessed using the MacDonald Hull & Norris grading system. Safety, efficacy, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Most participants were male (78.1%), above 18 years (68.7%), and from Erbil (87.5%). Beard involvement was common (40.6%). Both groups of alopecia showed significant improvement (p < 0.001), but group B outperformed group A in grading scores at all sessions (p