Alopecia Areata in the Elderly: A 10-Year Retrospective Study

The user managed hair loss with RU58841 and finasteride but is now experiencing graying hair, possibly due to stopping oral minoxidil. Many responses suggest embracing or dyeing gray hair, emphasizing that having gray hair is preferable to balding.

Minoxidil and finasteride are more effective for diffuse thinning and crown balding because these areas have miniaturizing but still alive hairs that respond well to treatment. The hairline is less responsive to these medications due to its androgen sensitivity and often requires a transplant for restoration.

A 25-year-old male experienced significant hair loss due to telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia. He began using finasteride, minoxidil, and vitamins, seeing some regrowth but remains worried about hair density.

ABS-201, a prolactin receptor blocker, shows promise in reversing hair loss and graying, with early success in macaques. Current treatments like finasteride, minoxidil, and RU58841 are still widely used, but new options like PP405 are eagerly anticipated.

DHT may inhibit hair growth by affecting mitochondrial function, leading to hair follicle miniaturization. Treatments like minoxidil and PP405 may promote hair growth by altering metabolic pathways, potentially counteracting DHT's effects.

Topical tacrolimus is being considered for androgenetic alopecia, though its effectiveness is unproven. Other treatments mentioned include minoxidil, dutasteride, cyclosporine, and teicoplanin, with discussions on blocking the prolactin receptor for hair growth.