May 202563
High-dose oral minoxidil was reported to raise density in most pattern-hair-loss patients, though a quarter had side effects including hypertrichosis and tachycardia. A Chinese FUE consensus issued recommendations across seven perioperative steps to improve graft survival. Botulinum toxin injections produced no density improvement in a randomized trial. A transplantation review found FUE and strip excision both state of the art, while a female-pattern review found antiandrogens helpful with topical minoxidil the only FDA-approved option. A male-pattern review recommended starting with topical minoxidil and oral finasteride. Stick-and-place implantation gave higher density and satisfaction than premade incisions, with similar survival. A scalp-microbiome index was reported to detect pattern hair loss before visible symptoms. Erbium lasers were found to improve density and thickness, especially combined with minoxidil or PRP.
- [Translated article] High-dose Oral Minoxidil for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia In 57 patients on high-dose oral minoxidil (>5 mg) for pattern hair loss, most gained 10–30% density, but a quarter had side effects (hypertrichosis 17.5%, tachycardia 3.5%); responses varied and further study is needed.
- Enhancing Graft Survival Rates in Follicular Unit Excision: A Chinese Expert Consensus on Perioperative Procedures A Chinese expert consensus issued recommendations across seven FUE perioperative steps — from graft harvest to preservation and implantation — to improve graft survival.
- Subcutaneous versus combined subcutaneous and intramuscular botulinum toxin for androgenetic alopecia: a randomized clinical trial In a 15-man randomized trial, botulinum toxin injections (subcutaneous or combined with intramuscular) produced no hair-density improvement in pattern hair loss at six months.
- Hair Transplantation: State of the Art A review finds FUE and strip excision both state of the art, with better hairline design and concurrent medical therapy improving long-lasting, natural results.
- Advances in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: current options and emerging therapies A review recommends starting male pattern hair loss treatment with topical minoxidil and oral finasteride, the FDA-approved options, before considering alternatives.
- Anti-androgen therapy for the treatment of female pattern hair loss: a clinical review of current and emerging therapies A review finds oral and topical antiandrogens can help female pattern hair loss, with patient factors guiding choice, though topical minoxidil remains the only FDA-approved option.
- Premade Incisions vs. Stick and Place: A Multicenter Retrospective Comparison of Hair Transplantation Outcomes in China In 191 FUE patients, premade incisions were faster and easier to learn, but stick-and-place gave higher graft density, less shedding and higher satisfaction; survival was similar.
- Microbial dysbiosis and its diagnostic potential in androgenetic alopecia: insights from multi-kingdom sequencing and machine learning Scalp microbiome sequencing across AGA severities yielded a machine-learning index detecting pattern hair loss and flagging high-risk individuals before visible symptoms.
- Patient satisfaction with hair regrowth in a study of ritlecitinib: a plain language summary In the ALLEGRO phase 2b/3 trial, more alopecia areata patients on ritlecitinib than placebo were satisfied with hair regrowth at week 24, with satisfaction sustained to week 48.
- A systematic review of erbium lasers in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia A 12-study review (344 patients) found erbium lasers improve density and thickness in pattern hair loss, especially combined with minoxidil or PRP, with minimal side effects.
- The effects of caffeine and adenosine on the microbiome and lipidome of the scalp In a 30-person randomized trial, caffeine-adenosine shampoo shifted scalp microbes and lipids alongside clinical anti-hair-loss signs at 12 weeks.
- Evaluating the accuracy of patient-reported hair outcomes versus trichometric measurements in PRP therapy In 56 PRP-treated alopecia patients, self-reported improvement correlated significantly with measured hair density changes but not hair width changes.
- Oxyresveratrol enhances hair regeneration in human dermal papilla cell and androgenetic alopecia mouse model Oxyresveratrol boosted dermal papilla cell growth and hair regrowth in DHT-treated mice through anti-inflammatory and β-catenin effects.
- SALT score distribution with ritlecitinib treatment up to 24 months in alopecia areata scalp hair loss scores were tracked over 24 months of ritlecitinib treatment in alopecia areata.
- Microenvironment-Responsive Recombinant Collagen XVII-Based Composite Microneedles for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia In AGA mice, collagen-XVII microneedles releasing IGF-1 regenerated hair more effectively than minoxidil, via VEGF and MAPK signaling.
- Enhanced therapeutic effects of all-trans retinoic acid nanostructured lipid carrier composite gel drug delivery system for alopecia areata In alopecia areata mice, a retinoic-acid nanoparticle gel promoted hair regrowth via Wnt/β-catenin with less skin irritation than standard retinoic acid cream.
- Rates of Infections, Malignancies, Cardiovascular Outcomes, and Death in Individuals with Hospital-treated Alopecia Areata: A Registry-based Cohort Study in Denmark In Danish registries, hospital-treated alopecia areata patients had elevated rates of serious infections, herpes zoster, lymphoma, cardiovascular events and death versus matched population — pre–JAK-inhibitor baseline rates from an observational, hospital-based cohort.
- Real-World Evidence for Baricitinib in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis and Alopecia Areata: Systematic Literature Review 2020–2023 A systematic review of 76 real-world publications finds baricitinib effective for alopecia areata in adults and children, with no new safety signals.
- Short-term malignancy risk of JAK inhibitors in severe alopecia areata: a multicenter cohort study In a large matched cohort, JAK inhibitors did not raise short-term malignancy risk in severe alopecia areata versus no treatment, though follow-up was limited and longer-term safety studies are needed.
- Janus kinase inhibitors for alopecia areata: a review of clinical data A review finds JAK inhibitors effective and generally safe for alopecia areata, with few serious side effects.
- A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing the Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Oral Cyclosporine and Oral Betamethasone Minipulse Therapy in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata In a 60-patient randomized trial, oral cyclosporine beat betamethasone minipulse for alopecia areata (53% vs 33% response), with more frequent but mild reversible side effects.
- The TNFRSF1B Connection: Implications for Androgenetic Alopecia Pathogenesis and Treatment Gene analyses plus cell and mouse experiments identify TNFRSF1B as a causal driver of pattern hair loss; knocking it down promoted hair regrowth in AGA mice.
- Blood pressure changes in patients after Minoxidil microinfusion to treat female pattern alopecia: analysis of a randomized, single blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial In a 24-patient trial, scalp minoxidil microinfusion lowered diastolic blood pressure, proving systemic absorption; pain during the procedure may explain a systolic rise in controls.
- Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles promote hair follicle growth through β-catenin signaling pathway Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles activated dermal papilla cells and accelerated hair follicle growth via β-catenin signaling in mice.
- Menopause and hair loss in women: Exploring the hormonal transition A review explains how falling estrogen and relative androgen excess around menopause reduce hair density and caliber and raise rates of female-pattern loss, shedding and frontal fibrosing alopecia.
- Erythrocyte Extracellular Vesicles Amalgamate into the Hair and Skin to Maintain Homeostasis Erythrocyte extracellular vesicles activated Wnt/β-catenin signalling in dermal papilla cells, and local injection of autologous vesicles improved hair growth in androgenetic alopecia patients.
- Photothermal Biomodulated Platelet-rich Plasma Improves Preservation of Hair Grafts and Extends Their Viability In a 28-volunteer proof-of-concept, hair grafts stored in photothermal-treated plasma survived eight hours, two hours longer than in saline or Ringer's lactate.
- Real‐World Efficacy and Safety of Cuticapil Stem Hair Serum as an Add‐On to Minoxidil in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Prospective Observational Study In a 60-patient observational study, adding Cuticapil serum to standard care reduced shedding and improved photographic scores versus standard care alone.
- A Systematic Review of Follicular Unit Graft Survival Rates After Hair Transplantation in Primary Cicatricial Alopecia A systematic review of 123 patients finds hair transplant graft survival in scarring alopecia peaks at 83% at one year, declining to 40% by 4–6 years.
- Fractional microporation-guided delivery of nanoencapsulated drugs for enhanced cutaneous and follicular absorption: a comparison of ablative laser and radiofrequency microneedling In porcine skin, fractional laser and radiofrequency microneedling boosted minoxidil skin deposition up to 3-fold and flux up to 56-fold versus passive absorption.
- Multi-omics analyses, cell experiments, and network pharmacology tools identified key proteins and candidate drugs for alopecia areata treatment Multi-omics and cell experiments identified DEFB1 as a potential alopecia areata drug target and the herbal compound cimigenol as a candidate binder.
- Serum-Based Assessment of Alopecia Areata Response to Treatment Using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy A serum infrared spectroscopy test with machine learning distinguished alopecia areata from controls and predicted treatment response in a small study.
- The Impact of Metformin on Plasma Prolactin Levels in Antipsychotics‐Treated Men With Hyperprolactinemia and Early‐Onset Androgenic Alopecia In men with drug-induced high prolactin, metformin lowered prolactin only in those without early-onset pattern hair loss, suggesting androgens blunt this effect.
- Etrasimod for alopecia areata: The scenario for a less extensive and moderate form discusses etrasimod as an option for less extensive, moderate alopecia areata.
- Alopecia areata and ritlecitinib: Unravelling response trajectories examines how responses to ritlecitinib unfold over time in alopecia areata.
- Strong efficacy of ritlecitinib 50 mg and baricitinib 4 mg in alopecia areata, but further research needed to establish superiority ritlecitinib 50 mg and baricitinib 4 mg show strong efficacy in alopecia areata, but which is superior remains unestablished.
- The Role of T‐Helper 17 Cells and Regulatory T Cells in Acute Diffuse and Total Alopecia: The Increased Function of Regulatory T Cells May Explain the Favorable Prognosis In 24 patients with acute diffuse and total alopecia, increased regulatory T cell activity via IL-10 and IL-15 may explain this variant's favorable prognosis.
- Proteins from Stressed Mesenchymal Stem Cells Can Repair Hair Follicles and Promote Hair Regeneration Proteins from stressed mesenchymal stem cells promoted hair growth via Wnt and TGF-β pathways in a mouse model of androgenetic alopecia.
- Highlights from JAAD Reviews: August 2025—Bicalutamide for female hair loss a JAAD Reviews highlight piece on bicalutamide for female pattern hair loss.
- Baricitinib-loaded separable microneedle array patch (S-MAP) based on hyaluronic acid for alopecia areata therapy In mice, a baricitinib microneedle patch produced 82% hair growth versus 31% in controls, offering painless local delivery.
- Macrophage-Centric Immunometabolic Crosstalk in Alopecia Areata Pathogenesis: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications A review explores how macrophages may drive the immune attack on hair follicles in alopecia areata and potential treatment implications.
- Hyperbranched polymer dots enhance hair follicle regeneration via Wnt/β-catenin activation: A drug-free nanozyme-based approach to hair growth therapy Hyperbranched polymer dots activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling and outperformed minoxidil for follicle regeneration in preclinical testing.
- Exosome Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: Balancing Potential with Standardization Challenges a review weighing exosome therapy's potential for pattern hair loss against unresolved standardization challenges.
- A systematic review of tumor necrosis factor-α blockers, anti-interleukins, and small molecule inhibitors for dissecting cellulitis of the scalp treatment A systematic review of 81 dissecting cellulitis patients found TNF-α blockers, IL inhibitors, JAK inhibitors and apremilast mostly improved symptoms, but long-term data are lacking.
- Efficacy of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Alopecia in Jordanian Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study In a retrospective Jordanian cohort, both tofacitinib and baricitinib improved SALT scores in alopecia areata, with baricitinib showing greater improvement.
- Assessment of Vascular Circulation in Alopecia Areata Using the FMSF Technique Women with alopecia areata showed reduced microcirculatory oscillations on FMSF testing versus healthy controls, suggesting neurovascular dysfunction in the disease.
- Friend or foe: A systematic review of dupilumab and alopecia areata a systematic review weighs whether dupilumab treats or triggers alopecia areata.
- Efficacy and Safety of Oral Betamethasone Mini-Pulses in Moderate to Severe Alopecia Areata In 40 alopecia areata patients, oral betamethasone mini-pulses achieved ≥50% regrowth in 62.5%, with mild transient side effects in 20% and relapses in 15%.
- Alterations in scalp microorganisms after Er: YAG laser treatment for Shanghai androgenetic alopecia patients In 13 pattern-hair-loss patients, Er:YAG laser microtrauma significantly increased scalp Staphylococcus, suggesting the laser may shift scalp microbiota balance.
- Unveiling the immune and vitamin profiles of blood: the potential biomarkers for alopecia areata Blood tests in 28 alopecia areata patients found elevated IFN-γ and low IgG4, proposed as possible disease biomarkers.
- Th1 effector CD4 T cells rely on IFN-γ production to induce alopecia areata In mice, Th1-type CD4 T cells transferred alopecia areata only when they could produce IFN-γ, clarifying a disease mechanism.
- Compatibility of 17-a-estradiol, Caffeine, Clobetasol Propionate, Finasteride Melatonin, Metronidazole, Spironolactone, Tretinoin, and Triamcinolone in Trichosol, a Natural Vehicle for Hair Solutions. A lab stability study finds compounded finasteride, tretinoin and melatonin remain stable 60 days in TrichoSol, while caffeine and triamcinolone last 180 days.
- Local Corticosteroids for Alopecia Areata: A Narrative Review A review finds topical steroids moderately effective for mild alopecia areata and steroid injections more effective but painful, with recurrence common after stopping.
- Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: retrospective case-control study of 54 patients from a tertiary care center In a 54-patient case-control study, CCCA patients improved with treatment less often than other scarring alopecia patients and reported more high-tension styling, heat and chemical use.
- A Matrix‐Derived Bioactive Peptide Enhances Epidermal Thickness and Hair Follicle Neogenesis in Grafted Dermal–Epidermal Composites The peptide TSN6 increased epidermal thickness and hair follicle formation in dermal-epidermal composites grafted onto nude mice.
- Evaluating the Causal Relationship Between Human Blood Metabolites and the Susceptibility to Alopecia Areata A Mendelian randomization analysis links certain blood metabolites to higher or lower alopecia areata risk, suggesting possible screening targets.
- The Clinical Evaluation of Serum WS Biotin, a Novel Encapsulated Form of D‐Biotin With Improved Water Solubility, for Anti‐Hair Shedding Applications. A Prospective Single‐Arm, Nonrandomized, Pretest−Posttest Study In an uncontrolled study of 22 volunteers with excessive shedding, a topical encapsulated-biotin serum reduced pulled hairs up to 76% over three months.
- Personalized Compounded Hair Loss Treatments: A Compatibility Assessment of the TrichoConcept™ Vehicle Line. A stability study found customized alopecia formulations in the TrichoConcept vehicle line remained stable for 14 to 180 days, a lab analysis.
- Cardiovascular Risk and Systemic Inflammation in Alopecia Areata: An Observational Case-control Study. In a 72-person case-control study, alopecia areata patients showed higher systemic inflammation and lower vitamin D than controls, but similar cardiovascular risk profiles.
- Photobiomodulation as a strategy to enhance argan oil permeation across diverse hair types
- Associations between ionomic profile and metabolic abnormalities in a murine model of sodium sulfide induced alopecia areata
- Computational drug discovery of potential 5α-reductase phytochemical inhibitors and hair growth promotion using in silico techniques
- Topical application of standardized capsicum and rosemary extracts promotes hair growth in testosterone induced alopecia in Wistar rats: Histological and morphometric evaluation