Topical immunotherapy of alopecia areata. A follow-up study.

Ninety-six patients suffering from alopecia areata have been treated with topical immunotherapy. Fifty-one have been treated with dinitrochlorobenzene and 45 with squaric acid dibutylester. Analysis of our group showed that 55 patients out of those 96, who entered the study, experienced hair regrowth during a period of 6-17 weeks of treatment. Of these 55 patients, 25 (45.4%) had a recurrence of AA and 30 (53.6%) had a persistent regrowth during a follow-up of 16 months-6 years. The severity and early development of flare-up and induced allergic contact dermatitis have been the principal factors that have influenced the clinical results.