UV-Trichoscopic Red Fluorescence in Alopecia Areata

August 31, 2026 updated by: Sevgi Nazli Apucu, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital

Evaluation of UV-Trichoscopic Red Fluorescence Intensity in Relation to Trichoscopic Findings and Response to Intralesional Corticosteroid Treatment in Limited Plaque-Type Alopecia Areata

The goal of this observational study is to learn whether red fluorescence seen with ultraviolet (UV) trichoscopy is related to disease findings and treatment response in adults with limited plaque-type alopecia areata. Trichoscopy is a close-up imaging method used to examine the hair and scalp. The study will investigate whether the amount of red fluorescence at the beginning of the study is related to how soon hair starts to grow back, how much hair regrows, and how trichoscopic findings change during follow-up. Participants for whom intralesional corticosteroid treatment has been planned as part of their regular medical care will have standard trichoscopic and UV-trichoscopic images taken of the affected scalp area. They will be followed at weeks 4, 8, and 12, when hair regrowth and changes in scalp and hair findings will be evaluated. Researchers will measure red fluorescence in the images and examine whether it is related to treatment response over time.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This is a prospective observational cohort study involving adults with limited plaque-type alopecia areata who are receiving intralesional corticosteroid treatment as part of routine clinical care. Participation in the study does not determine whether a patient receives intralesional corticosteroid treatment.

At baseline, the affected scalp area will be evaluated using conventional polarized trichoscopy and UV-trichoscopy. Follow-up assessments will be performed at weeks 4, 8, and 12 using the same imaging approach. Trichoscopic findings of interest will include yellow dots, black dots, exclamation mark hairs, and broken hairs.

UV-trichoscopic red fluorescence will be assessed quantitatively by measuring red-channel intensity on standardized digital images. Imaging and image analysis procedures will be performed using a standardized acquisition protocol to improve comparability between visits.

Treatment response will be evaluated according to the appearance and extent of visible hair regrowth and the change in trichoscopic activity findings during follow-up. The main analysis will examine whether baseline red fluorescence intensity is associated with the timing and magnitude of response to intralesional corticosteroid treatment. Associations between red fluorescence intensity and baseline trichoscopic findings, as well as changes in fluorescence intensity and trichoscopic findings over time, will also be evaluated.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Sevgi Nazli Apucu, Dermatology Resident Physician
  • Phone Number: +905374048180
  • Email: snapucu@gmail.com

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Recruiting
        • Istanbul Training and Research Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Sevgi Nazli Apucu, Dermatology Resident Physician
          • Phone Number: +905374048180
          • Email: snapucu@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults with limited plaque-type alopecia areata of the scalp who are receiving intralesional corticosteroid treatment as part of routine clinical care at the dermatology outpatient clinic will be prospectively enrolled. Participants will undergo standardized conventional trichoscopic and UV-trichoscopic assessments and will be followed for 12 weeks to evaluate red fluorescence intensity, trichoscopic findings, and hair regrowth.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18 years or older
  • Limited plaque-type alopecia areata of the scalp
  • Active hair loss
  • Symptom onset within the previous 6 months
  • No topical, intramuscular, or oral treatment for alopecia areata within the previous 1 month
  • No intralesional corticosteroid treatment within the previous 6 weeks
  • Provision of informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Beard alopecia areata
  • Very extensive alopecia areata or multiple large plaques
  • Tinea capitis or active infection
  • Current phototherapy
  • Systemic immunosuppressive treatment within the washout period specified in the study protocol
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Contraindication to UV imaging

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Limited Plaque-Type Alopecia Areata
Adults with limited plaque-type alopecia areata who are receiving intralesional corticosteroid treatment as part of routine clinical care. Participants will undergo conventional trichoscopic and UV-trichoscopic assessments at baseline and during follow-up at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Hair regrowth, trichoscopic findings, and UV-trichoscopic red fluorescence intensity will be evaluated over time.
Drug: Triamcinolone Acetonide
Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide is administered for limited plaque-type alopecia areata as part of routine clinical care. The decision to administer treatment is made independently of participation in this observational study. The study prospectively evaluates trichoscopic and UV-trichoscopic findings and hair regrowth during routine treatment follow-up.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Association Between Baseline UV-Trichoscopic Red Fluorescence Intensity and Timing of First Visible Hair Regrowth
Time Frame: Baseline through week 12
Baseline UV-trichoscopic red fluorescence intensity will be quantified from standardized digital images using red-channel intensity measurements. Participants will be evaluated for the first appearance of visible hair regrowth at follow-up visits at weeks 4, 8, and 12. The association between baseline red fluorescence intensity and the timing of first visible hair regrowth will be assessed.
Baseline through week 12
Association Between Baseline UV-Trichoscopic Red Fluorescence Intensity and Degree of Hair Regrowth
Time Frame: Weeks 4, 8, and 12
The degree of hair regrowth will be assessed at follow-up visits using standardized clinical photographs and trichoscopic images of the alopecic plaque. Hair regrowth will be evaluated according to the proportion of the baseline alopecic area showing visible regrowth, with trichoscopic examination used to identify early or fine regrowing hairs that may not be clearly visible in clinical photographs. The association between baseline UV-trichoscopic red fluorescence intensity and the degree of hair regrowth will be evaluated.
Weeks 4, 8, and 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in UV-Trichoscopic Red Fluorescence Intensity During Follow-up
Time Frame: Baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12
UV-trichoscopic red fluorescence intensity will be quantified from standardized digital images using red-channel intensity measurements. Changes in red fluorescence intensity from baseline through follow-up visits will be evaluated
Baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12
Change in Trichoscopic Activity Findings During Follow-up
Time Frame: Baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12
Trichoscopic activity findings, including yellow dots, black dots, exclamation mark hairs, and broken hairs, will be recorded using standardized trichoscopic images. Changes in these findings during follow-up will be evaluated.
Baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12
Association Between Baseline UV-Trichoscopic Red Fluorescence Intensity and Trichoscopic Findings
Time Frame: Baseline
The association between baseline UV-trichoscopic red fluorescence intensity and baseline trichoscopic findings, including yellow dots, black dots, exclamation mark hairs, and broken hairs, will be evaluated.
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Training and Research Hospital

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Vildan Manav, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 31, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 31, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 31, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IstanbulTRH-DERM-AAUV-2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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