Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Spironolactone Versus Topical Minoxidil in the Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Comparative, Clinical, and Trichoscopic Study

    Ghada Fawzy Rezk Hassan, Rasha Elsayed Elsaftawy, Omar Y. Mady, Shereen Farouk Gheida
    Studysummary This study found both topical spironolactone and topical minoxidil to be effective and safe treatments for female pattern hair loss, with mild to marked improvement observed over six months in both treatment groups, though more side effects were noted with minoxidil.
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    Research cited in this study 12

    1. Dermoscopic Evaluation of the Efficacy of Combination of Topical Spironolactone 5% and Minoxidil 5% Solutions in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2022
    2. Treatment with Oral Vitamin D Alone, Topical Minoxidil, or Combination of Both in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Comparative Clinical and Dermoscopic Study Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2022
    3. A Novel Topical Combination of Minoxidil and Spironolactone for Androgenetic Alopecia: Clinical, Histopathological, and Physicochemical Study Dermatologic Therapy · 2020
    4. Topical Finasteride Versus Topical Spironolactone in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia The Medical Journal of Cairo University · 2020
    5. Efficacy and Safety of a New 10% Topical Minoxidil Versus 5% Topical Minoxidil and Placebo in the Treatment of Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Trichoscopic Evaluation Journal of Dermatological Treatment · 2019
    6. Physiopathology and Current Treatments of Androgenetic Alopecia: Going Beyond Androgens and Anti-Androgens Dermatologic Therapy · 2019
    7. Androgens in Women: Role in Androgen-Mediated Cutaneous Disorders Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2018
    8. Towards a Consensus on How to Diagnose and Quantify Female Pattern Hair Loss – The Female Pattern Hair Loss Severity Index (FPHL-SI) Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · 2015
    9. Evidence-Based Guideline for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women and Men Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft · 2011
    10. Innovative Use of Spironolactone as an Antiandrogen in the Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss PubMed · 2010
    11. Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Hair Follicle Development ˜The œjournal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology · 2002
    12. Antiandrogen Therapy in Dermatology International Journal of Dermatology · 1996

    Related research 9

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    2. Continued Year-On-Year Improvement in Hair Density With Systemic Minoxidil in Women With Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Case Series Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2025
    3. Role Of Oral Minoxidil In The Treatment Of Androgenetic Alopecia Cosmoderma · 2024
    4. A Pilot Split-Scalp Study of Combined Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedling and 5% Topical Minoxidil in Treating Male Pattern Hair Loss Clinical and Experimental Dermatology · 2018
    5. 5% Minoxidil: Treatment for Female Pattern Hair Loss PubMed · 2015
    6. Androgenetic Alopecia in Adolescents PubMed · 2003
    7. Effect of Minoxidil on Hair Growth in Androgenic Alopecia in Women PubMed · 2002
    8. A Randomized Trial of Minoxidil in Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 1996
    9. The Use of Minoxidil to Prevent Alopecia During Chemotherapy for Gynecologic Malignancies PubMed · 1991