Successful Hair Loss and Acne Treatment: A Patient Story | Houston, Texas
A Journey Toward Healthier Hair and Skin with Dr. Reena Jogi
At Reena Jogi, MD Dermatology in Houston, Texas, we are committed to helping our patients navigate complex hair and skin conditions with compassionate care and expert treatment. Today, we're sharing the story of a 45-year-old woman who sought our help for two challenging concerns: hair loss and an inflamed skin cyst.
Chief Complaints: Hair Loss and Inflamed Skin Lesion
Our patient arrived with two main concerns:
Generalized hair loss on the scalp – moderate in severity, gradual in onset, and progressing over several months.
An inflamed cyst behind the left ear, characterized by redness and swelling.
Despite the emotional toll hair loss often takes, our patient remained proactive, already supplementing with pumpkin seed oil, vitamin D3, and Nutrafol, and had recently started Zepbound therapy earlier in 2025.
Clinical Findings and Diagnosis
Upon thorough examination:
The patient exhibited discrete, non-scarring patches of hair loss distributed across various regions of her scalp.
No active scalp symptoms like pain or itching were present.
We diagnosed Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune condition causing patchy hair loss.
Additionally, we diagnosed an inflamed epidermal inclusion cyst on the left posterior earlobe.
Stress was identified as a significant contributor to the patient's hair loss, alongside potential medication-related changes.
Comprehensive Treatment Plan
1. Hair Loss Management: Alopecia Areata
To address the patchy hair loss, we initiated:
Intralesional steroid injections (Kenalog) into 19 affected scalp sites to reduce inflammation and stimulate hair regrowth.
Over-the-counter Rogaine 5% solution, to be used twice daily for 6 months, then decreased to once daily for maintenance.
Detailed education on the natural shedding phase that may occur when starting Rogaine, ensuring the patient was fully informed and prepared.
We emphasized that while Alopecia Areata often responds well to treatment, recurrences can happen, and consistent follow-up is critical.
2. Skin Cyst Management: Inflamed Epidermal Inclusion Cyst
For the cyst, we:
Performed a small intralesional steroid injection directly into the cyst to calm inflammation.
Advised the patient to avoid touching the area, use warm compresses, and monitor for signs of infection like fever or worsening redness.
Future treatment options, including excision if necessary, were discussed should the cyst fail to resolve fully.
Follow-Up Care
The patient was scheduled to return in six weeks to monitor progress on both her hair regrowth and cyst resolution. At Reena Jogi, MD Dermatology, we believe that addressing the physical, emotional, and educational aspects of dermatologic health leads to the best patient outcomes.
If you are experiencing hair loss, acne, or other skin concerns, our Houston dermatology team is ready to help you achieve healthier, more confident skin and hair.