Trial results for a study investigating fractional photothermolysis for Alopecia were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-03-03. The trial was terminated early with an enrollment of 5 participants.
Background
Alopecia is a condition characterized by hair loss. Current treatments vary depending on the type and severity of alopecia. Fractional photothermolysis, also known as laser resurfacing, has been explored as a method to induce hair follicles through skin rejuvenation. The study aimed to evaluate this approach for scalp alopecia, specifically at the frontal hairline.
Trial design
The trial, identified as NCT03382184, was terminated with an enrollment of 5 subjects, despite initially planning for 50 subjects. It investigated the condition of Alopecia. The intervention involved treating half of the participant's head with a laser (either Fraxel DUAL 1550 or Halo by Sciton) for 6-10 times at 2-4 week intervals, with the other half serving as a comparator. The phase of the trial was listed as "NA".
Key results
The posted results include measurements for hair density change and quality of life impact:
- Hair Density Change by as Seen by Dermoscopy: For the Fraxel DUAL 1550 nm group, 5 participants were measured, and 0 participants showed a change.
- Hair Density Change as Seen by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): For the Fraxel DUAL 1550 nm group, 5 participants were measured, and 0 participants showed a change.
- Hair Regrowth Impact on Quality of Life (Improved or Not Improved): For the Fraxel DUAL 1550 nm group, the mean score was 3.4 with a Standard Deviation of 0.55 on a scale.
What this means
The early termination of this trial and the limited data available make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. The reported measurements for hair density change, showing 0 participants with a change out of 5 measured, suggest that the fractional photothermolysis intervention did not lead to observable hair density improvements in this small cohort. The quality of life data, with a mean of 3.4 (SD 0.55) on an unspecified scale, does not provide clear evidence of impact without further context. Further research would be needed to assess the efficacy of fractional photothermolysis for alopecia.
Source
The information for these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03382184, titled "Fractional Photothermolysis for Hair Follicle Induction", were posted on 2026-03-03 on clinicaltrials.gov.