Botulinum Toxin A for Hair Loss Treatment: A Systematic Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Future Directions
September 2023
in “
JPRAS Open
”
TLDR Botulinum Toxin A may help with hair growth and has some side effects; more research is needed.
The systematic review evaluates the use of Botulinum Toxin A (BoNT-A) for treating various types of hair loss, including androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, traction alopecia, and telogen effluvium. BoNT-A has shown potential in promoting hair growth by modulating cellular pathways, improving blood flow, and regulating proinflammatory cytokines. It also interacts with growth factors essential for hair follicle development and suppresses the secretion of TGF-β1, which inhibits follicular epithelial cell growth. Common side effects include reactions at the injection site and temporary muscle weakness. Future research should focus on optimizing treatment protocols, conducting long-term follow-up studies, comparing BoNT-A with existing treatments, and exploring the molecular pathways involved in its hair growth modulation. More comprehensive evaluations of BoNT-A's efficacy and safety are needed.