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A new contact sensitizer, diphencyprone, in the treatment of alopecia areata
Author(s) -
MacDonaldHull S.P.,
Norris J.F.B.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1987.tb12006.x
Subject(s) - alopecia areata , dermatology , medicine , family medicine , library science , computer science
Producing an allergic contact dermatitis on the scalp is a recognized treatment for alopecia areata (AA), alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universals (AU). 1 We report our experience with diphencyprone which, in contrast to dinitrochlorobenzene, is non‐mutagenic in the Ames test. Thirty‐five patients commenced treatment: two were unable to tolerate the allergic reaction, and six withdrew (after a mean of 14 weeks) because hair was not growing. Of the remaining 27 (six male, 21 female), nine (33%) had AA (mean duration 16 years) and 18 (67%) had AU/AT (mean duration 17 years); eight (30%) had a family history of alopecia; three (11%) had thyroid disease and 11 (41%) had circulating autoantibodies. Treatment was restricted to one half of the scalp and applied weekly in the department for 6 months; haematological and biochemical parameters remained normal during this time. When hair growth began (mean 10 weeks, range 6–20 weeks), treatment was extended to the whole scalp. Eight of the nine patients with AA regrew hair (89%), and three had a cosmetically acceptable result (33%); eight of the 18 patients with AT/AU also regrew (44%), with seven having a good cosmetic result (39%). Four patients were able to discard their wigs. There was no correlation between the patients'age, or duration of alopecia, and hair regrowth.