ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Some studies have reported the use of 308-nm excimer laser therapy for treating alopecia areata (AA); however, the effectiveness of this therapy on a theoretical basis has not yet been comparatively analyzed. OBJECTIVES: To determine the therapeutic effect of excimer laser therapy on AA. METHODS: One alopecic patch was divided into control and treated sides in 10 patients with AA. Then, 308-nm excimer laser therapy was administered twice a week for 12 weeks. Photograph and phototrichogram analyses were performed. RESULTS: Photographic assessments by both dermatologists and individuals of the general population showed objective improvements after excimer laser therapy. On the treated side, the hair count and hair diameter had statistically increased after treatment. However, only the hair diameter was found to be significantly high in the treated half when it was compared with the control side. CONCLUSION: The 308-nm excimer laser has a therapeutic effect on AA, which is proven by photograph and phototrichogram analysis by a side-by-side comparison.
Subject(s)
Alopecia Areata/surgery , Hair/growth & development , Lasers, Excimer/therapeutic use , Adult , Erythema/etiology , Female , Humans , Lasers, Excimer/adverse effects , Male , Middle Aged , Photography , Young AdultSubject(s)
Antitubercular Agents/adverse effects , Drug Eruptions/etiology , Lichenoid Eruptions/chemically induced , Mouth Mucosa/drug effects , Skin/drug effects , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Drug Eruptions/diagnosis , Drug Eruptions/drug therapy , Histamine Antagonists/therapeutic use , Humans , Lichenoid Eruptions/diagnosis , Lichenoid Eruptions/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Mouth Mucosa/pathology , Skin/pathology , Treatment Outcome , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosisABSTRACT
Erlotinib is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Erlotinib has been used primarily to treat non-small cell lung cancer. In addition to its role in tumor cells, EGFR is also an important regulator of growth and differentiation in the skin and hair. Therefore, EGFR-TKIs have been associated with a number of cutaneous side effects including follicular acneiform eruptions, cutaneous xerosis, chronic paronychia, desquamation, seborrheic dermatitis, and hair texture changes. Herein, we report a rare case of a 61-year-old woman who was treated with erlotinib and experienced cicatricial alopecia.