Advances in hair growth
January 2022
in “Faculty reviews”
TLDR
The best long-lasting results in treating hair loss may be achieved through combination therapy, including treatments like finasteride, minoxidil, and platelet-rich plasma injections.
The document reviews the complex mechanisms of hair growth and loss, and discusses current and emerging treatments for hair disorders, particularly androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The human scalp typically has 100,000 hair follicles, with hair length determined by the duration of the anagen (growth) phase. Treatments aim to promote this phase, delay the catagen (regression) phase, and prevent or reverse miniaturisation in AGA. Widely recognized treatments include finasteride and minoxidil, with finasteride inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and effectively increasing hair count. Other therapies include microneedling, low-level laser light, platelet-rich plasma, fractional lasers, cellular therapy, Wnt activators, and SFRP1 antagonism. A study of 26 patients showed significant increases in hair density and count with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and a meta-analysis of 10 studies (165 participants) found PRP beneficial in AGA. The document concludes that combination therapy may provide the best long-lasting results in AGA treatment.
View this study on facultyopinions.com →
Cited in this study
research Safety of low-dose oral minoxidil for hair loss: A multicenter study of 1404 patients
Low-dose oral minoxidil safely treats hair loss, with hypertrichosis as main side effect.
research Association of Hair Loss With Suicidality and Psychological Adverse Events vs Finasteride Use—Reply
research Therapeutic implications of topical cetirizine 1% in treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: A case‐controlled study
Topical cetirizine 1% promotes hair growth in male androgenetic alopecia patients.
research Topical finasteride for the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss: a review of the current literature
Topical finasteride helps regrow hair and reduce hair loss in men and women.
research Stromal vascular fraction‐enriched platelet‐rich plasma therapy reverses the effects of androgenetic alopecia
SVF-PRP therapy effectively reverses hair loss effects.
research A review of the treatment of male pattern hair loss
Finasteride and minoxidil work best together for hair loss.
research Trichologic response of platelet-rich plasma in androgenetic alopecia is maintained during combination therapy
PRP therapy improves hair density and thickness in AGA patients, even with other treatments.
research Global expression profile and global genome methylation signatures in male patients with androgenetic alopecia
Differences in gene expression and methylation patterns found in AGA patients suggest potential targets for future treatments.
research Minoxidil 1 mg oral versus minoxidil 5% topical solution for the treatment of female-pattern hair loss: A randomized clinical trial
Oral minoxidil and topical minoxidil 5% both effectively improve female-pattern hair loss with safe side effects.
research Platelet-Rich Plasma as a Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia
PRP therapy increases hair density for androgenetic alopecia.
research Finasteride for androgenetic alopecia is not associated with sexual dysfunction: a survey‐based, single‐centre, controlled study
Finasteride use doesn't cause sexual dysfunction in men with hair loss.
research Prostaglandins in androgenetic alopecia in 12 men and four female
research Treatment of male pattern alopecia with platelet-rich plasma: A double-blind controlled study with analysis of platelet number and growth factor levels
Platelet-rich plasma treatment can significantly increase hair count and density in men with pattern baldness, and these improvements can last up to 3 months.
research Platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia: A review of the literature and proposed treatment protocol
PRP shows promise for hair loss treatment, with three initial monthly injections and maintenance every 3-6 months.
research Comparative effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for adult androgenic alopecia: a system review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Low-level laser therapy significantly increases hair density in adults with hair loss, with low-frequency treatment being more effective.
research Efficacy of non-surgical treatments for androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Low level laser therapy works best for hair loss, followed by PRP, finasteride, and minoxidil.
research Low-dose daily aspirin reduces topical minoxidil efficacy in androgenetic alopecia patients
Daily low-dose aspirin lowers minoxidil's effectiveness for hair loss treatment.
research Minoxidil in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia
Minoxidil helps treat pattern hair loss in both men and women.
research Introducing Platelet-Rich Stroma: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Combined for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia
New treatment combining PRP and SVF increases hair density in 6-12 weeks for androgenetic alopecia patients.
research Microneedling for the treatment of hair loss?
Microneedling can help stimulate hair growth, especially when used with other treatments, but it's not better than existing therapies.
research A Systematic Review of Topical Finasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men and Women.
research Eccrine sweat glands associate with the human hair follicle within a defined compartment of dermal white adipose tissue
research Minoxidil Promotes Hair Growth through Stimulation of Growth Factor Release from Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
Minoxidil boosts hair growth by triggering growth factor release from specific stem cells.
research A preliminary study on topical cetirizine in the therapeutic management of androgenetic alopecia
Topical cetirizine improves hair density and thickness in androgenetic alopecia, but more research is needed.
research Female pattern hair loss: a pilot study investigating combination therapy with low-dose oral minoxidil and spironolactone
Low-dose oral minoxidil and spironolactone combo effectively reduces hair loss and improves hair density in women.
research Prostanoids and Hair Follicles: Implications for Therapy of Hair Disorders
Prostanoids, like prostaglandins and thromboxane A2, can both enhance and inhibit hair growth, and understanding their effects could help treat hair disorders.
research New-Generation Therapies for the Treatment of Hair Loss in Men
research Study of gene expression alteration in male androgenetic alopecia: evidence of predominant molecular signalling pathways
Hair loss involves immune responses, inflammation, and disrupted signaling pathways.
research Platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia: Does it work? Evidence from meta analysis
PRP treatment may increase hair density and reduce hair loss, but more research is needed.
research Efficacy of fractional lasers in treating alopecia: a literature review
research Hair follicle growth by stromal vascular fraction-enhanced adipose transplantation in baldness
SVF-enhanced adipose transplantation shows potential as a hair loss treatment.
research A Mechanistic Model of Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia
PRP treatment may stimulate hair growth by promoting blood vessel formation, increasing growth factors, and preventing cell death.
research Minoxidil dose response study in female pattern hair loss patients determined to be non-responders to 5% topical minoxidil.
Increasing the dosage of minoxidil can help hair regrowth in women who didn't respond to the standard treatment.
research Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Half-Head Study to Assess the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma on the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia
PRP treatment helps hair growth and density in androgenetic alopecia patients.
research The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hair Regrowth: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Platelet-rich plasma injections significantly improved hair regrowth and thickness in patients with hair loss.
research Androgenetic alopecia: new insights into the pathogenesis and mechanism of hair loss
New model shows muscle affects hair loss differently in men and women.
research Clinical use of conditioned media of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in female pattern hair loss: a retrospective case series study
ADSC-CM treatment improved hair density and thickness in women with hair loss, safely and effectively.
research Similar response patterns to topical minoxidil foam 5% in frontal and vertex scalp of men with androgenetic alopecia: a microarray analysis
Minoxidil foam 5% effectively treats hair loss in both frontal and vertex scalp regions.
research Promising alternative clinical uses of prostaglandin F2α analogs: Beyond the eyelashes
research Clinical utility and validity of minoxidil response testing in androgenetic alopecia
Minoxidil response testing helps treat hair loss effectively and safely.
research Therapeutic efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma and polydeoxyribonucleotide on female pattern hair loss
PRP injections may improve hair thickness and density in female hair loss patients.
research Platelet-Rich Plasma for Androgenetic Alopecia
PRP injections improve hair thickness for baldness.
research Emerging interactions between skin stem cells and their niches
Skin stem cells interacting with their environment is crucial for maintaining and regenerating skin and hair, and understanding this can help develop new treatments for skin and hair disorders.
research Sulfotransferase activity in plucked hair follicles predicts response to topical minoxidil in the treatment of female androgenetic alopecia
Sulfotransferase in hair follicles helps predict how well minoxidil works for female hair loss.
research Destruction of the arrector pili muscle and fat infiltration in androgenic alopecia
research Novel enzymatic assay predicts minoxidil response in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia
New test predicts if hair loss treatment will work.
research Topical valproic acid increases the hair count in male patients with androgenetic alopecia: A randomized, comparative, clinical feasibility study using phototrichogram analysis
Valproic acid increases hair count in men with hair loss.
research Efficacy and Safety of a Low-level Laser Device in the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Multicenter, Randomized, Sham Device-controlled, Double-blind Study
Laser device increases hair density, safe for treating hair loss in men and women.
research Low-Level Light Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A 24-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham Device–Controlled Multicenter Trial
Low-level light therapy safely improves hair growth and thickness for androgenetic alopecia.
research Proteomic analysis of balding and non-balding mesenchyme-derived dermal papilla cells from androgenetic alopecia patients using on-line two-dimensional reversed phase-reversed phase LC–MS/MS
Found different proteins in balding and non-balding cells, giving insight into hair loss causes.
research Effects of topical application of growth factors followed by microneedle therapy in women with female pattern hair loss: A pilot study
Growth factors and microneedle therapy increase hair density in women with hair loss.
research Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Potential Therapeutic Tool for Promoting Hair Growth
Platelet-rich plasma can potentially promote hair growth by stimulating cell growth and increasing certain proteins.
research A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study to assess the efficacy of a 24-week topical treatment by latanoprost 0.1% on hair growth and pigmentation in healthy volunteers with androgenetic alopecia
Latanoprost 0.1% may effectively treat hair loss.
research Prostaglandin D 2 Inhibits Hair Growth and Is Elevated in Bald Scalp of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia
PGD2 stops hair growth and is higher in bald men with AGA.
research The effect of a 1550 nm fractional erbium-glass laser in female pattern hair loss
Laser treatment increases hair density and thickness safely in women with hair loss.
research Finasteride, 1 mg daily administration on male androgenetic alopecia in different age groups: 10-year follow-up
Finasteride effectively increases hair growth in men with AGA, works better for those over 30, and may cause some side effects.
research Fractional Photothermolysis Laser Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss
Laser treatment can stimulate hair growth for male pattern hair loss.
research Efficacy and Safety of Finasteride Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia
Finasteride helps hair growth but may cause sexual side effects.
research Hair growth and rejuvenation: An overview
research The Hair Follicle as a Dynamic Miniorgan
Hair follicles are complex, dynamic mini-organs that help us understand cell growth, death, migration, and differentiation, as well as tissue regeneration and tumor biology.
research A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of a novel formulation of 5% minoxidil topical foam versus placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men
New 5% minoxidil foam effectively promotes hair growth and is safe for use.
research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough
Hair loss common in Australia; men affected earlier, more often than Asians; women less concerned.
research Minoxidil: mechanisms of action on hair growth
Minoxidil boosts hair growth by opening potassium channels and increasing cell activity.
research A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men
5% minoxidil works better for hair growth and density, with minor irritation.
research Changes in hair weight and hair count in men with androgenetic alopecia after treatment with finasteride, 1 mg, daily
Finasteride increases hair weight and count in men with hair loss.
research Long-term (5-year) multinational experience with finasteride 1 mg in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia.
Finasteride 1 mg/day for five years effectively improves hair growth and slows hair loss in men with male pattern baldness, and is safe for long-term use.
research Finasteride in the treatment of men with frontal male pattern hair loss
Finasteride effectively treats frontal hair loss with few side effects.
research Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia
Finasteride safely and effectively treats male pattern hair loss, but may cause reversible sexual issues and harm male fetuses.
research Sulfation of minoxidil by multiple human cytosolic sulfotransferases
Minoxidil breakdown varies by enzymes, affecting hair loss treatment effectiveness.
research Finasteride
Finasteride treats enlarged prostate and may help with baldness, but effects on sexual function and male fetuses are unclear.
research Minoxidil Sulfation in the Hair Follicle
Minoxidil helps hair growth by activating enzymes in hair follicles.
Related
research The Molecular Mechanism of Natural Products Activating Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway for Improving Hair Loss
research Advances in hair growth
The best long-lasting results in treating hair loss may be achieved through combination therapy, including treatments like finasteride, minoxidil, and platelet-rich plasma injections.
research A randomized, double-blind controlled study of the efficacy and safety of topical solution of 0.25% finasteride admixed with 3% minoxidil vs. 3% minoxidil solution in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia
Finasteride and minoxidil mix works better for hair growth than minoxidil alone, with similar safety.
research Hair-Growth Potential of Ginseng and Its Major Metabolites: A Review on Its Molecular Mechanisms
research Androgenetic alopecia and its remedies – a review
research The Potential Role of Minoxidil in the Hair Transplantation Setting
Minoxidil helps stabilize hair loss, increase density, and reduce shedding after hair transplant surgery.