1% antraline: Treatment of alopecia areata in children

Introduction: Alopecia areata is a clinical entity with difficult therapeutic management, and in the case of children we have few treatment options. Anthralin or dithranol (1,8-dihydroxyantrone) is a synthetic derivative of anthracene that acts on keratinocytes in the skin and increases its ability to generate free radicals with antiinflammatory effect. It is used topically once a day for psoriasis and alopecia areata. The main benefit is its good tolerance and rare side-effects, which include local irritation and temporary hyperpigmentation of the scalp.