A case of androgenetic alopecia treated with valproic acid
March 2014
in “International Journal of Dermatology”
TLDR Valproic acid helped hair growth in alopecia patient; more research needed.
This article describes a case of a 60-year-old man with androgenetic alopecia who was treated with valproic acid (VPA), a mood stabilizer commonly used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorders. While alopecia is a known adverse effect of VPA, this case report describes a peculiar case where VPA induced hair growth in the patient. The mechanism by which VPA prevents hair loss and promotes hair growth is not clear, but it is suspected that VPA can potentially have an effect on hair cycle and be applied to treat androgenetic alopecia with an unclear mechanism. This single case report calls for further investigation regarding the potential utility of VPA in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.
View this study on onlinelibrary.wiley.com →
Cited in this study
research Valproic Acid Induces Hair Regeneration in Murine Model and Activates Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Human Dermal Papilla Cells
Valproic Acid helps regrow hair in mice and activates a hair growth marker in human cells.
research The influence of valproic acid treatment on hair and serum zinc levels and serum biotinidase activity
Valproic acid treatment may cause temporary hair loss due to reduced zinc and biotinidase levels, which tend to normalize after 6 months.
research Hair Loss in Psychopharmacology
Some psychiatric medications can cause hair loss, but it usually grows back after adjusting the medication.