Contact Immunotherapy for Hair Loss - Topic Overview
Alopecia areata is
hair loss caused when the immune system attacks
hair follicles 
, where hair growth begins. Contact immunotherapy is an
experimental therapy that may be the most effective treatment for severe
alopecia areata.1 A common medicine used is
diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP).
DPCP, a liquid, is "painted" on the scalp once a week. The concentration of the solution is increased at each treatment session until a mild allergic reaction occurs. Hair growth may appear within 3 months of beginning treatment.
A review of research on contact immunotherapy notes that about half of those with severe alopecia areata had a good response, but how much hair grew back varied widely.2
Side effects of contact immunotherapy include a severe rash (contact dermatitis) and swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck.
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