Principal Investigator:
Sonal Shah, MD
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Case Western Reserve University
Overview:
Alopecia areata (AA) is a type of hair loss that affects both adults and children. It may be limited to a few spots on the scalp or lead to hair loss across the whole body. AA has often been inappropriately considered a cosmetic condition; however, it can cause significant emotional and psychosocial distress. This can negatively impact the quality of life in affected children. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for this disease. However, we do know that injecting steroids into the areas of hair loss can lead to regrowth. Unfortunately, the use of needles can be scary and painful for children, and many are unable to tolerate this treatment option. We aim to study the tolerability and effectiveness of a novel medical device that can deliver medication into the skin without the use of a needle.
Status:
This project was funded by a 2021 PeDRA Research Grant.