Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences - Department of Laser Applications in Medical Bioological

Background: Recently laser treatment for hair loss has become very popular. Laser-assisted drug delivery (LAD) is a new developing science that has grown popular in various medical applications. This work aims at inspecting the effect of fractional carbon dioxide laser (CO₂) on improving the delivery of minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia patients and detecting the role of fractional CO₂ laser in its treatment. Patients and methods Forty-five Egyptians with male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA) were enrolled in this study; clinical grading was assessed based on Norwood-Hamilton classification. Patients were divided into 3 groups; the first group (combined group) received fractional CO₂ laser session followed by topical application of minoxidil 5% solution twice daily and also in between sessions, the second group received fractional CO₂ laser sessions only. Six sessions with 2-week intervals were performed. The third group applied topical minoxidil only for 3 months. Global photographs and dermoscopic assessments were performed before treatment and three months after. Results The mean number of hair after treatment in the 3 groups significantly increased, mostly in the combined group (p=0.001).The hair thickness (thin & thick) significantly increased after treatment in the combined group (thin hair p=0.001, thick hair p=0.042) and the fractional group (thin hair p=0.001, thick hair p=0.008), however, in the minoxidil group only thin hair thickness increased (p=0.001). In all 3 groups, there was significant improvement in hair count and thickness. Several dermoscopic findings were detected; peripilar sign, hair diversity, yellow spot, white dots, and arborizing red lines.The number of double hair units significantly increased after treatment in combined group (p=0.012)

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