Contact immunotherapy (DPCP)

Contact immunotherapy is a form of treatment designed to induce a local allergic skin reaction (contact dermatitis) that stimulates hair re-growth by “distracting” the immune system from attacking hair follicles. In the UK, diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) is the most used contact immunotherapy treatment.

The treatment is initially applied at a higher concentration to a small area of the scalp or the arm, in a process called sensitisation – this makes the person allergic to the solution being applied. After sensitisation, a much lower concentration of DPCP is applied weekly to the affected areas of the scalp. Usually half of the head is treated until hair growth is demonstrated, then the whole scalp is treated. The concentration of DPCP is gradually increased over time, depending on the level of reaction. This type of treatment requires prolonged courses, sometimes more than one year.

There are only a small number dermatology departments in the UK which offer this treatment.

Contact immunotherapy might be prescribed for patients with the following alopecia types:

alopecia areata (including totalis and universalis)

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