Intralesional vitamin D3 in treatment of alopecia areata: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common non-scarring, inflammatory type of hair loss that affects people of all ages and genders.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intralesional vitamin D3 injection in the treatment of alopecia areata.

A randomized controlled clinical trial included a total of 60 adult patients with localized alopecia areata were randomly assigned into two groups. Group I consisted of thirty patients who received 1ml of intralesional injection of vitamin D3 every 4 weeks for a maximum of 3 sessions. Group II consisted of thirty patients who received intralesional injection of normal saline 0.9% every 4 weeks for 3 sessions as a control group. All patients had their serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, TSH, antithyroglobulin, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies estimated before starting treatment. The 5-point semiquantitative regrowth score (RGS) and dermoscopy were used to evaluate the therapeutic response.

There was statistically significant difference with p-value <0.001 between two study groups regarding degree of improvement. Dermoscopic findings that explain signs of activity were decreased, and signs of improvement were appeared after the third months of treatment being better in intralesional vitamin D group. The adverse effects were negligible and transient, and there was no recurrence of lesions.

Intralesional vitamin D3 is an effective treatment option for localized patchy (not more than 40% of scalp distribution) alopecia areata. There is no relation between serum vitamin D3 and efficacy of treatment, so measuring vitamin D3 before starting treatment is not advised.