The Benefits of Steroid Cream for Hair Growth

When you think about hair loss, you will likely think about thinning crowns and receding hairlines, which are typically caused by male and female pattern baldness, the most common type of hair loss. However, other types of alopecia can come on at any time and even affect children, including alopecia areata. For people with alopecia areata, there are several treatment options available, one of which is the potent topical corticosteroid, better known as a steroid cream.

In this article, discover the benefits of topical steroid creams for hair regrowth, including whether you should use one.

What Are Steroid Creams?

First, let’s understand: what are steroid creams? They are a prescription-only corticosteroid medicine that is commonly used to treat inflammation. For example, doctors typically prescribe steroid creams to those with immune system attacking skin conditions, including psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and eczema. These creams manage this by blocking the chemical arachidonic acid, constricting the blood vessels, and modulating the body’s immune system. [1]

Can Steroid Cream Cause Hair Growth?

Yes – steroid creams can be used to treat patients with alopecia areata and alopecia barbae. However, they cannot help those with androgenetic alopecia (also known as male or female pattern hair loss). Steroid creams are specifically for autoimmune conditions.

About Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that involves the immune system attacking the hair follicles and affects around 1 in 1,000 people. Around 4,000 people are diagnosed with it every year. [2] It can affect anyone of any age, although it’s more common in young adults, and there are some factors that may increase a person’s risk, such as having another autoimmune disorder or smoking. Alopecia areata causes small, round patches of hair loss on the scalp and can also affect other areas of the body.

About Alopecia Barbae

Alopecia Barbae is specifically beard hair loss. Like alopecia areata, it causes small, circular patches of hair loss. The good news with alopecia barbae is that it is typically temporary, although with how much it can affect confidence, most patients like to seek a hair growth treatment such as steroid creams.

6 Benefits of Using Steroid Cream for Hair Regrowth

Steroid creams are not the only options for treating hair loss – there are other medications and treatment options – but there are some undeniable benefits to using one.

1. It Works for Alopecia Areata and Alopecia Barbae

Let’s start with the obvious: steroid creams are a very effective treatment for people with alopecia areata and alopecia barbae. These two autoimmune conditions can be very upsetting to deal with, leaving people of all ages with a lack of confidence. Steroid creams provide a simple solution, targeting the immune system and allowing the hair to grow back through.

2. There Are Different Options

There is not simply one single steroid cream to fit all needs – instead, there are several options. This is beneficial, as it means you are more likely to find one that works for you and your specific hair loss. The types include hydrocortisone acetate, clobetasol propionate, betamethasone valerate, triamcinolone acetonide, and mometasone furoate. Your doctor will decide which is best depending on your type of hair loss and specific needs; for example, triamcinolone acetonide is used specifically for beard hair loss.

3. It Can Be Used in Combination with Other Treatments

While a steroid cream might be enough to treat even extensive hair loss, patients often do better if they try multiple treatments at the same time. The good news is steroid creams work well in combination with other treatments for alopecia areata, such as minoxidil. Using both can help boost your chances of hair regrowth.

4. It’s Simple to Apply

You do not need to be a skilled doctor to apply steroid cream – you can apply it to your beard and scalp easily at home. There are specific instructions you’ll need to follow, especially concerning where you apply it and how often, but these are straightforward enough for anyone to follow them with ease.

5. It is Not Invasive

While steroid creams have side effects, the treatment is not nearly as invasive as many other hair restoration options, such as steroid injections or hair transplants. You can do it yourself from the comfort of your home.

6. The Science Backs it Up

Let’s be honest: there are tons of supposed hair restoration treatments out there, but there is no real science to back up the promise. That’s not the case with steroid creams, as these are prescribed by doctors with the specific aim of treating alopecia. The science backs it up; there have been several studies showing its effectiveness, including one that showed 85% of children experienced a 50% reduction in hair loss after using clobetasol. [3]

What About the Downsides?

As you can see, there are undeniable benefits of using steroid creams for hair loss. So, what about the downsides? It’s good to have a balanced view of any hair loss treatment before trying it out.

Not for All Forms of Hair Loss: As mentioned, steroid creams work well for alopecia areata and alopecia barbae. However, this does not cover all types of hair loss – not even the most common. So, it’s a treatment only really for a specific, smaller group of people.

There Are Side Effects: Like most medications, potent topical steroids can cause side effects in patients who use them. Some of the most common side effects of topical corticosteroids include skin thinning, contact dermatitis, irritation, acne, and even hormonal issues.

Might Not Work as a Long Term Treatment: Steroid creams may not be good as a treatment long term. When used for a long time in one specific area, it can lead to internal side effects.

Should You Use a Steroid Cream for Hair Regrowth?

It is best to speak with your doctor before deciding whether a steroid cream is the right hair loss treatment for you and your hair loss. It all depends on your specific type of hair loss and medical history. Your doctor may recommend and prescribe it if you have either alopecia areata or alopecia barbae (or both), as it’s known as an effective treatment for these conditions. However, people with specific allergies or skin conditions may not be able to use one, even to treat alopecia areata.

How to Use a Steroid Cream for Hair Loss

Have you been prescribed a steroid cream for hair regrowth? Here’s how to use it.

1. Wash Hands

Always start by washing your hands thoroughly with soap before using the steroid cream.

2. Apply a Thin Layer to the Scalp

Next, you need a thin layer of the steroid cream applied directly to the scalp. Apply it in the direction of your hair growth.

3. Wash Hands Once More

Following the application, you must wash your hands again – otherwise, the skin of your hand will also be affected by the topical medication.

Regarding how often to use it, follow your doctor’s instructions. Some people may only need to use it once a day, whereas others may need to apply it twice daily. It also helps to use a hair track app to keep up to date with how effective the steroid cream is.

Other Hair Restoration Options

Of course, a steroid cream is not the only option – if you have another type of hair loss or find that steroid creams aren’t effective, here are some other treatments you could use.

Other Medications: Minoxidil and finasteride are the most common medications for hair loss, and both produce good results. Remember, you can often use them in conjunction with a steroid cream.

Low-Level Laser Therapy: Low-level laser therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that involves low-level lasers directed at your scalp or another area where you’re experiencing hair loss. You can even get low-level lasers to use at home.

PRP Injections: PRP injections use your blood as a hair growth treatment. It might sound scary, but it is relatively simple and can be very effective in the long term.

Hair Transplant: A hair transplant is a type of minor surgery that takes small grafts from your scalp and transplants them to another area – specifically to an area that has hair loss. It’s a good treatment option for those who find steroid creams and other topical treatments do not work, as it is a permanent solution with excellent, natural results.

Steroid Cream for Hair Regrowth: In Summary

The benefits of a steroid cream for hair regrowth are pretty stark: it’s an effective, low-risk treatment you can do from the comfort of your own home. If you have alopecia areata or alopecia barbae, it’s definitely something to ask your doctor about.

However, if you have another type of hair loss like androgenetic alopecia, steroid creams will not work for you. In this case, you should look into treatments such as minoxidil, PRP injections, or a hair transplant. Are you ready to begin your hair restoration journey? Get in touch with our team today, or check out our patients gallery to see the results we provide.

 

Sources:

1. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hydrocortisone/#:~:text=1.,depend%20on%20your%20health%20problem
2. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/alopecia-areata/background-information/prevalence/#:~:text=Alopecia%20areata%20is%20a%20relatively,25%E2%80%9329%20years%20of%20age
3. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/1774051#:~:text=Seventeen%20of%2020%20children%20in,001)