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.
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