Antiandrogen Therapy for Skin and Hair Disease

The 2006 document detailed the effectiveness of antiandrogen therapies in treating skin and hair conditions like acne vulgaris, androgenetic alopecia, and hirsutism, which are influenced by androgens. It highlighted that androgens contribute to acne by increasing sebum production and follicle plugging, and to male pattern hair loss in both genders. Antiandrogen treatments work by various mechanisms, including inhibiting hormone production, blocking receptors, and inhibiting enzymes like 5α-reductase. Finasteride, specifically at a 1 mg daily dose, is FDA-approved for male androgenetic alopecia and was effective in 90% of men, compared to a 25% success rate in the placebo group, but it was not effective in postmenopausal women with female pattern hair loss. Flutamide showed modest improvement in women with alopecia and hyperandrogenism but has a risk of severe liver damage. A study of 80 women with female pattern hair loss treated with spironolactone or cyproterone acetate showed 44% experienced hair regrowth, with no significant difference between the drugs. The document also noted the effectiveness of combination oral contraceptive pills in managing hirsutism. Overall, antiandrogen therapies were concluded to be beneficial for conditions associated with both high and normal androgen levels.