Treatment of chronic extensive alopecia areata by diphenylcyclopropenone alone versus in combination with anthralin.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic inflammatory, recurrent, tissue-specific autoimmune disease, mediated by autoreactive CD8+ T cells, occurring in genetically predisposed individuals. Targeting intrabulbar and peribulbar lymphocytic infiltrate by using squaric acid dibutyl ester and diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) in contact immunotherapy is by far the best chemotherapy for AA. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with DPCP and anthralin in chronic extensive AA. A total of 24 patients (12 were treated only with DPCP and 12 with DPCP and anthralin for at least 24 weeks) were evaluated. Complete hair regrowth was observed in 62.5 and 18.2% of the patients who received DPCP and combination therapy, respectively (p = .04). Hair regrowth duration was different in both groups. The DPCP therapy is superior to the combination therapy with DPCP and anthralin in terms of efficacy, the time of onset of hair regrowth, and the time of completion of hair regrowth, Moreover, combination therapy has more side effects in combination therapy group have been discussed in this work.

Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Many methods have been performed to achieve a satisfying outcome in acne scars but some of them were high cost and also were associated with low results and some complications. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety therapy of glycolic acid (GA) peel, microneedling with dermapen and a combination of both procedures in treatment of atrophic acne scars. PATENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 30 patients suffering from acne scars. They were randomly assigned into three groups, each group included 10 patients; group I was treated with GA peel, group II treated was with microneedling. Group III received a combination of both procedures. All patients received six sessions with 2-week intervals. The clinical assessment was based on the qualitative global scar grading system before and after treatment, quartile grading scale, and degree of patient satisfaction. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in acne scars grade after treatment among the studied groups (P = 0.04) but it was higher in group III. There was improvement in boxcar, ice pick, and rolling scars in all groups, respectively (P = 0.03, P = 0.04, P = 0.04). Patients' satisfaction was higher in group III (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The combination of dermapen and GA peel is more effective than monotherapy.