Background and aim Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune hair loss disorder with heterogeneous severity, distribution, and duration. Pentoxifylline has been utilized in dermatological conditions mostly as an additional treatment, with advantageous benefits. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy in clinical settings of intralesional pentoxifylline in treating AA. Patients and methods A prospective clinical study that was conducted on 50 patients diagnosed clinically and dermoscopically with AA. The patients were subjected to Intralesional pentoxifylline injection and had one session every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. Results A significant reduction in dermoscopic features of AA after treatment. Regarding the SALT score, there was a significant reduction before and after treatment. More so, a high satisfaction rate was observed in 27 (54%) patients after the treatment. As regards follow-up data, recurrence and appearance of new lesions were observed in three (6%) and two (4%) of patients, respectively. Moreover, regarding side effects, telangiectasia and atrophy were not observed among patients., On the other hand, transient erythema and pain were observed in some patients. Conclusion Intralesional pentoxifylline is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated method for the treatment of AA with minimal adverse effects and a low recurrence rate.
Mostafa et al. (2026) studied this question.