Pill vs. needle: can roflumilast regrow hair in alopecia areata?
NCT ID NCT07174011
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed trial tested whether an oral anti-inflammatory drug called roflumilast can regrow hair as well as steroid injections in people with mild-to-moderate patchy alopecia areata. Fifty adults with limited to moderate hair loss were enrolled. The main goal was to measure hair regrowth using the SALT score after 16 weeks of treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
roflumilast (an oral anti-inflammatory drug) and intralesional corticosteroid injections (steroid shots into the scalp)
What this could lead to
If roflumilast works as well as steroid injections, it could provide a pill-based alternative for treating patchy hair loss from alopecia areata.
What could go wrong
This is a small, completed Phase 4 trial with only 50 participants. Results may not apply to more severe forms of alopecia areata, and roflumilast may have side effects like nausea or headache.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Cairo University
Giza, Cairo Governorate, 13114, Egypt