For pathologies involving inflammation, an essential part of the treatment is to eliminate that inflammation to allow hair to grow.

Corticosteroids are a treatment that effectively reduces inflammation and are used to improve many conditions. They can be taken orally, applied topically as a cream, or injected. The chosen method will be adapted to each patient's type of illness and its severity.

The advantage of corticosteroid mesotherapy is that it allows us to apply a high dose of treatment only to the affected area, reducing the risks of sustained systemic corticosteroid use. The technique is performed in the clinic, causing only slight discomfort to the patient. The amount of corticosteroid and serum to be injected is chosen according to the area and the pathology to prevent local skin alterations. The treatment will be repeated as often as necessary. It is usually combined with treatments such as platelet-rich plasma or vitamin mesotherapy to stimulate hair growth.

For it to be useful, the alopecic area must be observed to know where it is truly needed, as there is a maximum safe dose depending on the patient's weight. In other words, if an excessive dose is used, the body can absorb the corticosteroid with subsequent alterations.

PRP is a treatment that stimulates hair growth and controls inflammation. Blood contains platelets, which are cells responsible for healing wounds. When activated, they release growth factors, originally intended to heal the body. Its use in regenerative medicine began many years ago. Since the hair follicle that produces hair is a continuously growing structure, these locally applied growth factors will improve and stimulate its function. This stimulation of the hair root results in improved hair growth, hair shine, its consistency, and reduced hair loss.

As it uses components from the patient's own blood, it is considered a natural treatment suitable for pregnant women, patients with oncological conditions, vegans and vegetarians, etc.

The technique is practically painless and performed in the clinic. Blood is drawn from the patient (similar to a blood test) to isolate the platelet-rich portion through specific and meticulous centrifugation and separation. This separated portion, which is the platelet-rich plasma itself, is activated with a substance so that the platelets release their growth factors. Once prepared and activated, it is injected into the scalp at a depth of 4mm under the skin, at the level of the hair roots. Local anesthesia can be applied to the scalp beforehand to make it less uncomfortable.

The patient can return to normal activities immediately afterward and does not require specific preparation. Although the patient may leave the consultation with somewhat messier hair than when they arrived, they can even return to work immediately after. Its frequency will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether it is used as a maintenance treatment for a condition or as an aesthetic treatment to improve hair quality.

The alopecia treatment par excellence. Its history is curious because it is a treatment for hypertension. When high doses were administered, it was observed that patients experienced significant hair growth, and studies began to use it solely for hair. Its usefulness was described more than two decades ago, and it continues to be used with good results. This molecule is capable of stimulating hair growth by improving its vascularization. This prolongs the hair's growth phase, making it appear thicker and denser.

There are multiple routes of administration, including topical, oral, or through repeated microinjections (minoxidil mesotherapy).

Topical application is associated with good results if applied daily. Since minoxidil contains an alcoholic excipient, it can sometimes cause mild irritation, which can be controlled with appropriate shampoos or cosmetics. Its main problem is the inconvenience of application, as it can leave residue and make hair look dirty.

For several years now, oral treatment has been available at a low dose of 0.5-2.5mg (higher doses between 40-80mg daily are used to treat hypertension). It is a treatment that has proven effective and has a good safety profile. It will not lower the patient's blood pressure if the dose is chosen correctly. The main adverse effect is hair growth in other body areas, which is reversible by lowering the dose. Many of my patients are so happy with the hair growth that they prefer to remove unwanted hair rather than lower the dose, but that is a personal decision.

Mesotherapy with minoxidil involves injecting the molecule into the scalp at the level of the hair roots, which are approximately 4mm deep. This treatment is performed in the clinic every 15 days. It is practically painless. Since injections are performed, I usually combine it with vitamins or other components depending on the patient's characteristics.