Cryotherapy as an alternative therapy for the treatment of recalcitrant alopecia areata

Background: The cold-induced inflammation of cryotherapy may alter the immunologic processes and structural components of the hair follicles responsible for AA. The aim of this study was to study the efficacy of cryotherapy in alopecia areata, and totalis. Method: Forty-four patients with recalcitrant scalp alopecia areata or totalis were treated with cryotherapy. The cryo-system chosen was a closed contact CO2 system with metallic probes. The patients were evaluated for 4-8 weeks for hair growth. Satisfactory hair growth after 8 weeks was an indication for performing cryotherapy for the remaining untreated areas. Result: Varying degrees of hair growth were detected in 52.50% of the patients four weeks and in 65.90 % eight weeks after treatment. About 38.64% of the patients showed more than 50% hair regrowth 8 weeks after therapy. Conclusion: Cryotherapy is effective for about two-thirds of the patients with alopecia areata, many of whom are unresponsive to conventional therapies.