Steroid Injections for Hair Loss in Birmingham
Consultant dermatologist led steroid injections for hair loss of the scalp, eyebrows and beard
At Midland Skin we offer steroid Injections for hair loss for patients in Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Worcester and the Midlands.
Quick facts about Steroid Injections for Hair Loss
Best for
Alopecia Areata & Inflammation
Treatment time
10 minutes once planned
Anaesthetic
Not required
Downtime
Minimal
Frequency
Every 4 weeks
Practitioner
Consultant Dermatologist
Price
See below
What are steroid injections for hair loss?
Steroid injections are used to treat some forms of hair loss where inflammation or immune activity is affecting the hair follicles. In conditions such as alopecia areata, the body’s immune system can mistakenly target hair follicles, causing patches of hair loss. Steroids can reduce this local immune activity and inflammation, which may allow the follicles to recover and regrow hair in suitable cases.
The steroid medication is injected directly into the skin where the hair loss is present. This helps concentrate the treatment in the area where it is needed, while reducing the chance of steroid-related side effects elsewhere in the body.
Before and after pictures of steroid injections for hair loss
Key points about steroid injections for hair loss
- Steroid injections are mainly used for limited alopecia areata and selected inflammatory hair-loss conditions
- Treatment is usually quick and performed in clinic
- Several sessions may be needed, often spaced around 4 weeks apart
- Regrowth is possible, with best results seen in early patch stage alopecia areata
Scarlett Greenwood
Which conditions are steroid injections suitable for?
The most common reason for steroid injections to be prescribed is in the treatment of alopecia areata of the scalp, eyebrows or beard.
Other conditions for which Midland Skin offers steroid injections are listed below. Steroid injections in these conditions can help slow progression and are often used alongside oral or topical treatments.
- Lichen planopilaris
- Frontal fibrosing alopecia
- Discoid lupus
- Folliculitis decalvans
Which hair loss conditions are steroid injections not suitable for?
Steroid injections are not used for alopecia areata of the eyelashes.
They also do not work for male or female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium, advanced traction alopecia. Your dermatologist will be able to advise you at consultation if steroid injections are likely to help your hair loss condition.
What are the benefits of steroid injections in alopecia areata?
When steroid injections are used for alopecia areata, they can help bring about regrowth. Steroid injections have been used for alopecia areata since 1958.
- Studies from the 1970’s showed that hair regrowth was found in 71% of people with alopecia areata, when treated every 2 weeks for 3 times.
- In another study, 63% of those receiving monthly steroid injections found regrowth at 4 months. Regrowth was found to be more successful if there were fewer than 5 patches, if the patches were less than 3cm in diameter, and if the lesions were less than 1 month old.
- In a smaller study, 6 out of 10 patients with extensive alopecia areata that was covering more than 50% of their scalp found that steroid injections helped bring about hair growth.
It is very important to understand that steroid injections do not cure alopecia areata but they temporarily or permanently resolve a patch. The nature of alopecia is that it can come back in the same patch or in a new area at a later time, and having steroid injections does not appear to prevent that.
While steroid injections help a large proportion of patients with patchy hair loss, it does not help everyone and a result can not be guaranteed.
What are the risks of steroid injections?
- Tiny pin point bleeding at some injection points can be seen. We ask you not to disturb the area until the next day when it is okay to resume shampooing and shaving.
- Mild headaches and soreness is usually minimal. Paracetamol can be taken if necessary.
- Skin thinning. Steroid injections can thin the skin and the fat under the skin, and is perhaps the most important concern. This can cause the skin to appear paler and more wrinkled, and the skin can start showing thread veins. If there is thinning of the fat, then dimples can appear. Any indentations are often temporary and recover with time, though occasionally they are permanent.
- Pigmentation disturbance. Rarely, there can be loss of pigmentation at the site of steroid injection, which too can be permanent. Occasionally hyperpigmentation can be seen too.
- Acne. Acne and folliculitis type spots (pustules) can occur in an area treated with steroid injection.
- Absorption into the rest of the body. A small amount of the steroid injected into the skin reaches the rest of the body. This can be a significant amount if a large area needs to be treated. In these instances it is possible that side effects such as diabetes, high blood pressure, bone thinning, disturbance in the menstrual cycle and a temporary reduction in the immune system could occur.
Many of these side effects can be reduced by using a lower concentration of steroid solution and spreading it out evenly over the area with multiple injections of small volumes, using a very fine syringe. This technique of microdroplet steroid injection significantly reduces the chance of side effects.
Treatment journey: steroid injection for hair loss
Initial Hair Loss Consultation
You meet your Consultant Dermatologist who will assess your hair loss condition, confirm whether steroid injection is the right treatment, and plan the procedure with you
Steroid Injection Treatment
Treatment may be given at the initial consultation if the diagnosis is clear and steroid injections are suitable. A series of treatments is planned, every 4 weeks.
Review Consultation
You return for review at the end of your course of treatment, so your dermatologist an assess progress and make any changes to your treatment plan if necessary.
Vicky
What is the best time to start steroid injections?
Steroid injections are usually considered most helpful when started early, particularly within the first month of developing a new patch of alopecia areata.
Early treatment may help reduce inflammation around the hair follicles and support regrowth in the affected patch. It is possible that calming inflammation early may also reduce further immune activity in the scalp, although this has not been conclusively proven.
Steroid injections can still be considered later, even if a patch has been present for one or two years, depending on the diagnosis, examination findings and your dermatologist’s recommendation.
For inflammatory or scarring hair-loss conditions, steroid injections are often used during periods of active inflammation, such as when there is itching, soreness, redness or ongoing progression.
Steroid injections for hair loss: FAQs
Who performs steroid injection treatment?
At Midland Skin, steroid injections for hair loss are performed by a consultant dermatologist.
Your dermatologist will first assess the type and pattern of hair loss to decide whether steroid injections are suitable. This is important because steroid injections only help certain types of hair loss and are not appropriate for every patient.
Can steroid injection treatment be done at the first appointment?
In many cases, yes. If the diagnosis is clear and steroid injections are suitable, treatment may be performed at the initial consultation. Sometimes further assessment, tests, photographs, monitoring or a different treatment plan may be recommended first.
How long does treatment take?
Once planned, the injection treatment itself usually takes no more than 5 to 10 minutes.
The appointment may take longer if this is your first consultation, if several areas need assessment, or if your dermatologist needs to discuss diagnosis, treatment options and follow-up.
How many steroid injections will I need?
Most patients need a course of treatments rather than a single session. Steroid injections are often repeated around every 4 weeks, depending on the size of the area, response to treatment and whether any side effects occur.
On average most people need three or four sessions, while others may need up to six.
How is treatment performed?
The skin is first cleaned with an antiseptic cleanser.
Treatment is performed using a micro droplet technique. In this technique, a very fine needle is used to inject small droplets at multiple points within the affected area. This helps spread the dose evenly and may reduce the risk of side effects.
An eyebrow may require about 4 to 8 injections. A patch of hair loss that is 5 x 5cm may require about 10 to 15 small injections.
Do steroid injections hurt?
Steroid injections can sting or feel uncomfortable briefly, but the treatment is usually quick. A very fine needle is used to place small amounts of steroid into the affected area. Most people tolerate the procedure well and do not need local anaesthetic.
Which steroid is used?
The usual steroid used for hair loss injections is Triamcinolone acetonide. Brand names include Adcortyl and Kenalog. Other steroids are sometimes used as well.
Can I wash my hair and shave after steroid injections?
Avoid rubbing, scratching or applying irritating products to the treated area on the day of treatment.
Most people can wash their hair, shave or resume normal grooming from the next day.
Can I go back to work or normal activities afterwards?
Yes, most people can return to normal activities straight away.
You may have tiny pinpoint marks, mild tenderness or slight soreness in the treated area, but this usually settles quickly.
When will I know if the treatment is working?
Hair regrowth in alopecia areata, if it happens, usually takes time. Some patients start to notice early regrowth after two or three weeks, but it may take a few months to judge the response properly.
Your dermatologist will review progress during follow-up and advise whether to continue, adjust or stop treatment.
Steroid injections for hair loss Show pricing
Book ConsultationInitial hair loss and scalp consultation
Steroid injection – Small area (up to 5cm²)
Steroid injection – Medium area (5-10cm²)
Steroid injection – Large area (10-15cm²)
An initial consultation is required for any new patient requiring steroid injections
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Scarlett Greenwood
References used for this article
Abell E, Munro DD. Intralesional treatment of alopecia areata with triamcinolone acetonide by jet injector. Br J Dermatol 1973: 88: 55–59.
Kubeyinje EP. Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in alopecia areata amongst 62 Saudi Arabs. East Afr Med J 1994: 71: 674–675
Pelin Ustuner, Ali Balevi & Mustafa Özdemir (2017) Best dilution of the best corticosteroid for intralesional injection in the treatment of localized alopecia areata in adults, Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 28:8, 753-761, DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2017.1329497
About the Author
This page has been written and/or medically reviewed by Dr Sajjad Rajpar, Consultant Dermatologist and Medical Director of Midland Skin, Birmingham.
Dr Rajpar is on the GMC Specialist Register in Dermatology and has over 20 years’ experience in clinical dermatology. He provides clinical oversight to ensure the information on this page is accurate, balanced and consistent with current dermatology practice.
Dr Sajjad Rajpar
Date last updated: 11th May 2026
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