Comparison of Microneedling Along With Topical Vitamin D3 Versus Microneedling in Alopecia Areata

Overview

Alopecia areata is a common condition that causes sudden, patchy hair loss on the scalp and other body sites. It is believed to occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, leading to hair loss that can range from small patches to more widespread involvement. While many treatments have been tried, including steroids and newer medicines, none offer a guaranteed permanent cure. Microneedling is a technique in which very fine needles are used to create small punctures in the skin. This stimulates natural healing, improves blood supply to hair roots, and activates stem cells that support new hair growth. It also allows medicines applied to the skin to penetrate more effectively. Previous studies have shown that combining microneedling with certain topical medicines improves results compared to microneedling alone. Vitamin D is known to play an important role in the regulation of the immune system and in the health of hair follicles. Applying vitamin D directly to the scalp after microneedling may enhance its effects, as the microchannels created by the needles allow the medicine to reach the deeper layers of the skin. This study will compare two treatment approaches for patients with localized alopecia areata (affecting less than half of the scalp). One group will receive microneedling alone, while the other group will receive microneedling combined with topical vitamin D3. The treatments will be given every two weeks for a total of six sessions. Patients will then be followed for three months to see whether they achieve complete regrowth of hair in the affected areas, as measured by a standard scoring system for alopecia areata (SALT score). The study will enroll 80 adults aged 18-60 years who have alopecia areata and have not received any recent treatment. By comparing these two approaches, the study aims to find out whether adding topical vitamin D3 to microneedling improves treatment outcomes. If effective, this combination could provide patients with a safe, affordable, and non-invasive option for treating alopecia areata.