Oral Vitamin D Treatment in Patients with Telogen Effluvium: Clinical and Dermoscopic Evaluation

Abstract

Background: Telogen effluvium (TE) is the most common hair loss. Vitamin D is related to hair and skin diseases due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Objective: To investigate Vitamin D serum level role in TE pathogenesis. Patients and Methods: Forty females with TE were collected and twenty age- and sex-matched healthy individuals as controls. Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D level was estimated prior and 3 months after oral Vitamin D. Results: The mean serum 25(OH) Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in TE patients than controls (13.31 ± 5.8 ng/ml vs. 33.61 ± 8.16 ng/ml) respectively, P < 0.001. The mean serum 25(OH) Vitamin D levels before treatment in acute TE was 12.31 ± 6.88 ng/ml, compared to 10.6 ± 3.9 ng/ml in chronic TE without a significant difference, (P = 0.544). The mean serum 25(OH) Vitamin D levels in TE group after 3 months oral Vitamin D therapy were 38.4 ± 15.22 ng/ml with significant increase compared to pretreatment level, (P < 0.001). However, without a significant difference between acute TE (45.4 ± 9.22 ng/ml) and chronic TE (42.1 ± 10.6 ng/ml), (P = 0.711). Conclusion: Oral Vitamin D has a promising effect in TE treatment, but the results need to be verified on a larger scale with evidence-based recommendation regarding the exact dose and treatment duration.