Originally developed to keep people's immune systems from rejecting transplanted organs, oral cyclosporine is sometimes used to suppress the immune system for people with
alopecia areata. However, suppressing the immune system can also cause problems, including an increased risk of serious infection and possibly
skin cancer. Although oral cyclosporine may help to re-grow hair, it does not stop the disease. Most doctors feel that the dangers of the drug outweigh its benefits for treating alopecia areata.
Photochemotherapy for Treating Alopecia Areata
In photochemotherapy, a person is given a light-sensitive drug called a psoralen either orally or topically and then exposed to an ultraviolet light source. This combined treatment is called PUVA (psoralen and ultraviolet A). In clinical trials, approximately 55% of people achieve cosmetically acceptable hair growth by using photochemotherapy. However, the relapse rate is high, and patients must go to a treatment center where the equipment is available at least two to three times per week. Furthermore, this treatment carries the risk of causing
skin cancer.
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