Br J Dermatol. 2002 Oct;147(4):812-3.
Finasteride for female androgenetic alopecia.
Thai KE, Sinclair RD.
Paper on treatment of hair loss in women
Archive for September, 2009
Finasteride for female pattern hair loss
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia.
Monday, September 28th, 2009J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998 Oct;39(4 Pt 1):578-89.
Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia.
Kaufman KD, et al
BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) is caused by androgen-dependent miniaturization of scalp hair follicles, with scalp dihydrotestosterone (DHT) implicated as a contributing cause. Finasteride, an inhibitor of type II 5alpha-reductase, decreases serum and scalp DHT by inhibiting conversion of testosterone to DHT. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether finasteride treatment leads to clinical improvement in men with male pattern hair loss. METHODS: In two 1-year trials, 1553 men (18 to 41 years of age) with male pattern hair loss received oral finasteride 1 mg/d or placebo, and 1215 men continued in blinded extension studies for a second year. Efficacy was evaluated by scalp hair counts, patient and investigator assessments, and review of photographs by an expert panel. RESULTS: Finasteride treatment improved scalp hair by all evaluation techniques at 1 and 2 years (P < .001 vs placebo, all comparisons). Clinically significant increases in hair count (baseline = 876 hairs), measured in a 1-inch diameter circular area (5.1 cm2) of balding vertex scalp, were observed with finasteride treatment (107 and 138 hairs vs placebo at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Treatment with placebo resulted in progressive hair loss. Patients' self-assessment demonstrated that finasteride treatment slowed hair loss, increased hair growth, and improved appearance of hair. These improvements were corroborated by investigator assessments and assessments of photographs. Adverse effects were minimal. CONCLUSION: In men with male pattern hair loss, finasteride 1 mg/d slowed the progression of hair loss and increased hair growth in clinical trials over 2 years.
Treatment of pattern Hair Loss
Thursday, September 24th, 2009Hautarzt. 1989 Nov;40(11):669-78.
Androgenetic alopecia in the male. Recent developments
Braun-Falco O, Bergner T.
Dermatologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
In this review male-pattern baldness [androgenetic alopoecia (AA)] is discussed. AA is characterized as a physiological process. Some of the reactions that take place in its pathogenesis and many of the substrates involved in androgen metabolism are now known, but the question as to the androgen stimulus leads to retrograde transformation of the hair follicles only in skin of the parieto-occipital scalp can still not be answered. Specific antiandrogens for the treatment of AA are not available for either topical application or systemic administration. Minoxidil seems to have a positive effect in the treatment of AA but in most cases the cosmetic result is not satisfactory.
Treatment of Hair Loss
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Panonica Adriat. 2005 Mar;14(1):5-8.
Androgenetic alopecia and current methods of treatment.
Bienová M, Kucerová R, Fiurásková M, Hajdúch M, Kolá? Z.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common dermatological condition affecting both men and women. In the case of men, up to 30% over the age of 30 and more than 50% over the age of 50 are affected. AGA also affects women although clinical signs are usually milder and associated with diffuse thinning of the scalp hair. AGA invariably causes serious psychological problems especially in women. By far the most promising approaches to the treatment of baldness in men are drug therapies, such as topical minoxidil and finasteride administered systemically. Mild to moderate AGA in women can be treated with antiandrogens and/or topical minoxidil with good results in many cases.
Hair Loss Blog
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009Androgenetic alopecia in the man
Monday, September 21st, 2009 Ther Umsch. 2002 May;59(5):211-6.Links
Androgenetic alopecia in the man
Bader U, Trüeb RM.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) occurs in approximately 40% of men at the age of 40 and 50% at 50, respectively. Especially for young men progressive hair loss can be distressing. Therefore, understanding of these patients’ concerns is important for appropriate management. Current understanding of the pathophysiology of AGA mainly focuses on androgen metabolism as it affects hair growth. As a result, pharmacologic treatment has made considerable progress through the introduction of selective 5 alpha-reductase inhibition with finasteride. In placebo-controlled clinical trials in men with AGA, treatment with oral finasteride proved to be effective. Minoxidil is the only pharmacological substance for topical application with proven efficacy. So far, other treatment modalities have no proven efficacy in clinical trials, so that their use cannot be recommended. Options for advanced AGA not amenable to pharmacologic treatment are autologous hair transplantation and hair replacement, both of which have recently also made progress in terms of cosmetic appeal.
Hair Loss blogs
Friday, September 18th, 2009Is topical minoxidil solution effective on androgenetic alopecia
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009J Dermatolog Treat. 2007;18(5):268-70
Is topical minoxidil solution effective on androgenetic alopecia in routine daily practice?
Mapar MA, Omidian M.
OBJECTIVES: Minoxidil solution stimulates hair growth in androgenetic alopecia. In order to maintain any beneficial effect, applications must continue indefinitely. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ratio of patients who were satisfied with the drug and continued to use it versus those who were displeased and did not continue their treatment, and the reasons for the discontinuation. METHODS: A total of 1495 men aged 20-40 years who suffered from androgenetic hair loss were selected among patients who were referred to two private dermatologists. They were subjected to treatment with 5% topical minoxidil solution. These patients were treated with no difference from the routine office patients. Factors such as the duration of treatment, adverse effects, the patient’s satisfaction and the causes of treatment cessation were also closely studied. RESULTS: Almost all the patients gradually avoided continuing the treatment. Only in a few patients was the cessation of medication due to adverse effects. The causes of discontinuation in the majority of patients were the low effect of medication and an aversion to this topical treatment method. CONCLUSIONS: The insignificant cosmetic effect of minoxidil solution caused discontinuity of treatment among almost all patients.
Minoxidil for Hair Loss Treatment
Monday, September 7th, 2009J Pharm Sci. 1990 Jun;79(6):483-6. Links
Relationship between contact time of applied dose and percutaneous absorption of minoxidil from a topical solution.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics Unit, Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.
Twenty-two healthy male volunteers completed a four-way, multiple-dose, randomized crossover study to determine the relationship between contact time of applied drug on the scalp and minoxidil absorption from a 2% topical solution used for the treatmen of male pattern hair loss,. One milliliter of solution was applied twice daily over 150 cm2 of bald scalp to each subject for 6 days. Unabsorbed drug was washed off the scalp after 1, 2, 4, and 11.5 h of contact time in each of four treatments. Cumulative urinary excretion profiles within steady-state, 12-h dosing intervals were well described by straight lines for all treatments, indicating that systemic minoxidil elimination was rate controlled by constant, zero-order percutaneous drug absorption. The extent of minoxidil absorption, expressed as steady-state urinary excretion of unchanged minoxidil, minoxidil glucuronide, or the sum of these, increased in a disproportionate manner with increase in contact time of drug on the scalp. Relative to the amount absorbed after a contact time of 11.5 h, absorption was approximately 50% complete by 1 h and greater than 75% complete by 4 h. This suggests that minoxidil absorption from the vehicle into skin occurs rapidly relative to diffusion through skin. The rate of minoxidil absorption from vehicle into skin was characterized as nonlinear, whereas minoxidil excretion into urine was rate controlled by diffusion from one or more components of the skin which apparently serve as a reservoir, or depot, for minoxidil.