Treatment Options for Alopecia

August 2015 in “ Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy ”

Matilde Iorizzo, Antonella Tosti

androgenetic alopecia alopecia areata cicatricial alopecias oral finasteride topical minoxidil topical immunotherapy low-level light therapy platelet-rich plasma oral isotretinoin TNF-α inhibitors Janus kinase inhibitors topical finasteride bimatoprost AGA AA LLLT PRP Propecia Rogaine

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Platelet-Rich Plasma →

growth factors taken from your blood and injected into your scalp to stimulate hair

Bimatoprost →

a synthetic prostamide used to treat eyelashes also shows promise for stimulating hair growth on scalp

Studysummary This article discusses the social and psychological impact of hair disorders and the challenges in their treatment, but reports no new clinical results.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The 2015 document reviews treatment options for various forms of alopecia, including androgenetic alopecia (AGA), alopecia areata (AA), and cicatricial alopecias. It highlights the effectiveness of oral finasteride and topical minoxidil for AGA, with finasteride preventing progression in 99% of patients and improving outcomes in 66% after two years. Treatments for AA are off-label, with topical immunotherapy being the best-documented, showing a 50% success rate. Emerging treatments like low-level light therapy (LLLT) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are mentioned, but require more research. The document also discusses the use of oral isotretinoin for Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp (DCS) and the potential of TNF-α inhibitors. It emphasizes the need for further research, standardized treatment protocols, and managing patient expectations, noting that most randomized controlled trials support treatments for AGA. Janus kinase inhibitors for AA and topical finasteride and bimatoprost for AGA are among the promising drugs under clinical trials.

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Research cited in this study

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