qd alopecia areata treatment
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune form of hair loss in which the immune system affects the hair follicles, usually causing one or more round patches of loss on the scalp or beard. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we confirm the pattern first, then plan treatment — often intralesional steroid injections for limited patches. (Results vary by individual.)
is this for me
Who it’s for
Even if none of these describes you, we will look again at the consultation.
- One or more round, well-defined patches of hair loss
- Sudden patchy loss on the scalp or beard
- People whose patches have appeared relatively recently
More extensive or long-standing cases are managed differently; the right approach is decided at consultation.
Before you pick a treatment name, start with the cause of your concern.
start with your concern
Even a treatment with the same name takes on a different role and scope depending on your current structure, the change you want, what you have had before and the recovery time you have.
01
Where you are now, and where we start
Well-defined patches of loss, their extent and activity, and any associated conditions
02
The change you want, the impression you keep
Rather than adding hair, we separate the hair to keep from the area to bring back, and agree how long that will take.
03
How it differs from similar options
We compare which stage medication, injections, devices and a transplant each suit, and how strong the evidence is for each.
04
Health information and recovery schedule
We check family history, medication, childbirth, illness and stress, test results such as thyroid and iron, and the dates that matter.
the
principle
From magnified examination of the scalp, your history and the pattern of loss, we decide which tests are needed and the order of evidence-based treatment.
In alopecia areata, immune cells target the hair follicle and interrupt growth, so hair falls out in patches while the follicle itself is usually preserved. For limited patches, small injections of a corticosteroid (such as triamcinolone) into the affected areas can calm the local immune activity and encourage regrowth; sessions are typically spaced a few weeks apart. More extensive or resistant cases may need other approaches, which are discussed at consultation.
How it works
01
An autoimmune process
In alopecia areata, immune cells target the hair follicle and interrupt growth, so hair falls out in one or more well-defined patches.
02
The follicle is usually preserved
The follicle itself is generally not destroyed, which is why regrowth is possible when the local immune activity settles.
03
Calming local immune activity
For limited patches, small injections of a corticosteroid (such as triamcinolone) into the affected areas can reduce the local immune response and encourage regrowth.
04
Extent guides the approach
Limited patches often respond to local injections, while more extensive or resistant cases may need different approaches decided at consultation.
The same treatment, never the same plan.
the qd standard
Rather than a fashionable name or a fixed package, we weigh the structure found at examination, safety, recovery and the limits within one plan.
- 01DIAGNOSIS FIRSTCause before nameWe first separate out the tissue and the function behind your concern.
- 02LESS, PRECISEOnly as much as neededRather than an excessive change, we plan the smallest scope with a clear role.
- 03HONEST LIMITThe limits, explained tooWe explain the change you can expect, the alternatives, individual differences and the risks.
From consultation to follow-up, planned as one flow.
personal plan
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune form of hair loss in which the immune system affects the hair follicles, usually causing one or more round patches of loss on the scalp or beard. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we confirm the pattern first, then plan treatment — often intralesional steroid injections for limited patches. (Results vary by individual.)
Scalp and hair examination
Under magnification we look at how far the loss extends and its pattern, changes in hair thickness, breakage, scarring and inflammation.
Telling the causes apart
We check when it began and how fast it moves, family history, childbirth, illness and stress, diet and medication, then decide which tests are needed.
Order of treatment
Around the standard treatment for the diagnosis, we compare the expected effect, the side effects, what you can keep up steadily and what a supporting treatment adds.
What the procedure is like
- Consultation and confirmation of the pattern
- Marking of the affected patches
- Intralesional corticosteroid injections (for limited patches)
- Soothing and aftercare guidance
- Follow-up every few weeks as planned
Time: An injection session for limited patches takes about 10–15 minutes.
Please read this before treatment
- Little downtime; you can usually return to daily activities the same day. A topical numbing option may be used for comfort.
- Temporary tenderness, redness or small dents at the injection sites may occur; sessions are spaced a few weeks apart.
- Side effects such as skin thinning or pigment change at the site may occur and are reviewed at consultation.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Brief stinging during injection, with temporary tenderness or redness at the sites
- Small dents or thinning of the skin (fat atrophy) at injection sites, usually temporary
- Lightening of skin color (hypopigmentation) or fine visible vessels at the sites
When to take extra care
- More extensive, long-standing or rapidly progressing loss — a different approach may be needed
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding — let us know at consultation
- Diabetes, glaucoma or other conditions affected by steroids — tell your doctor
- Active infection at the treatment site
what to expect
What to expect over time
A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.
DAY 0
Injection session
For limited patches, an injection session takes about 10–15 minutes; brief stinging, then possible tenderness or redness at the sites.
DAY 1-3
Settling
Tenderness or redness at the injection sites generally eases; you can usually return to daily activities the same day.
EVERY FEW WEEKS
Repeat sessions
Sessions are usually spaced a few weeks apart, with the schedule based on your response.
MONTH 1-3
Possible regrowth
Regrowth, often initially as fine or lighter hairs, may appear gradually in responsive patches. (Results vary by individual.)
FOLLOW-UP
Review
Some cases settle and others may recur, so follow-up is important; extensive cases are reassessed for other approaches.
Sessions & results
Treatment for limited patches is usually a series of sessions a few weeks apart, with regrowth appearing gradually. Some cases settle and others may recur, so follow-up is important. (Results vary by individual.)
how it compares
How it compares
Approaches for alopecia areata differ mainly by how extensive the loss is. These are differences in suitability, not in quality, and the right one is decided at consultation.
| Intralesional steroid | Topical treatment | Other approaches | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited to | Limited, well-defined patches | Limited patches or as an adjunct | More extensive or resistant cases |
| How given | Injected into the affected areas | Applied to the scalp | Decided case by case at consultation |
| Sessions | Every few weeks | Ongoing at home | Varies |
| Downtime | Little to none | None | Varies |
Neither is “better” — they work differently and suit different goals. The right choice is decided after we assess your skin.
Before you decide, the questions people always ask
before consultation
It is understood to occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. The cause is entirely different from male pattern hair loss, so the treatment is different as well. It typically shows up as round patches with clearly defined edges, which is why the shape alone already tells us a fair amount.
When only a small area is involved, the hair sometimes recovers without treatment. If the area is wide, if patches appear in several places, or if it keeps coming back, treatment is needed, and changes in the fingernails or toenails call for a closer look. Whether your case is one to watch or one to treat is something we determine during the examination.
Stress is often described as a possible trigger, but it is not the only cause. We also check for any accompanying autoimmune condition and for a family history. Putting it all down to stress can mean missing the tests and the treatment you actually need, so we look at these factors together.
That depends on how much of the scalp is affected and how active the condition is. Small patches may be treated with injections placed directly into the lesion, while a wide or rapidly progressing case calls for a different approach. We do not recommend starting with cosmetic procedures; the diagnosis and the treatment that follows from it come first.
As the hair recovers, it is common for the first new hairs to come in fine and pale. They often thicken and regain their colour over time, though results vary from person to person. To keep track of where hair has returned and how thick it is, we photograph the same spot under magnification and compare the images as we go.
The medical information on this page was reviewed by Hong Sahyeok, plastic surgeon and Medical Director of QD Clinic.
personal consultation
Tell us what bothers you now, the change you want, what you have had done before and any dates that matter. We will compare the possible approaches and their limits, calmly.
Consult now