Use of Botulinum Toxin for Androgenic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

September 2021 in “ Skin appendage disorders ”

Robert S. English, Sophia Ruiz

botulinum toxin androgenic alopecia AGA TGF-β1 dermal papilla cells intramuscular injections hair count changes blood flow to the scalp female pattern hair loss Botox male pattern baldness hair loss transforming growth factor beta 1 scalp blood flow

Studysummary This systematic review of five studies found that intradermal and intramuscular botulinum toxin injections showed promising hair growth outcomes for men with androgenic alopecia, but emphasizes caution due to a lack of control groups and small sample sizes.

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research The Effect of Intradermal Botulinum Toxin on Androgenetic Alopecia and Its Possible Mechanism

15 citations , April 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, intradermal injection of botulinum toxin was associated with increased hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia through the suppression of TGF-β1 secretion from dermal papilla cells.

research Effectiveness and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

15 citations , January 2020 in “BioMed Research International”

In this study of patients with androgenetic alopecia, botulinum toxin type A was found to significantly increase hair counts and improve hair density and coverage, with enhanced results observed when combined with oral finasteride, revealing a safe and effective treatment approach without adverse effects.

research A Small Dose of Botulinum Toxin A Is Effective for Treating Androgenetic Alopecia in Chinese Patients

12 citations , December 2018 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Small Botox dose effectively treats hair loss in Chinese men.

A Hypothetical Pathogenesis Model for Androgenic Alopecia: Clarifying the Dihydrotestosterone Paradox and Rate-Limiting Recovery Factors

research A Hypothetical Pathogenesis Model for Androgenic Alopecia: Clarifying the Dihydrotestosterone Paradox and Rate-Limiting Recovery Factors

30 citations , December 2017 in “Medical Hypotheses”

This review evaluates dihydrotestosterone's role in androgenic alopecia and proposes a model suggesting that chronic scalp tension and inflammation contribute to hair follicle miniaturization, identifying fibrosis, calcification, and tension as treatment targets.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review

153 citations , March 2017 in “Endocrine”

This review examines recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of androgenetic alopecia, highlighting two major genetic risk loci, but does not report new clinical findings.

research A Pilot Study to Evaluate Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin in Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Males

24 citations , January 2017 in “Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery”

In this pilot study, botulinum toxin was found to be a safe and effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia in most participants, though larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

research Involvement of Mechanical Stress in Androgenetic Alopecia

10 citations , January 2015 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study suggests that mechanical stress may influence androgenic alopecia patterning through a stretch-induced and androgen-mediated mechanotransduction mechanism in dermal papilla cells.

research Effect of Pumpkin Seed Oil on Hair Growth in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

36 citations , January 2014 in “Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine”

This study found that men with androgenetic alopecia treated with pumpkin seed oil for 24 weeks experienced a notable 40% increase in hair count compared to a 10% increase with a placebo.

Androgen Receptor Transactivity Is Potentiated by TGF-β1 Through Smad3 but Checked by Its Coactivator Hic-5/ARA55 in Balding Dermal Papilla Cells

research Androgen Receptor Transactivity Is Potentiated by TGF-β1 Through Smad3 but Checked by Its Coactivator Hic-5/ARA55 in Balding Dermal Papilla Cells

19 citations , September 2011 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

TGF-β1 increases androgen receptor activity in hair loss, but Hic-5/ARA55 can counter this effect.

research Treatment of Male Pattern Baldness with Botulinum Toxin: A Pilot Study

50 citations , November 2010 in “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery”

This study suggests that Botox injections may increase hair count and reduce hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia, potentially through increased blood flow and oxygen to the scalp.

Long-Term Treatment with Finasteride 1 mg Decreases the Likelihood of Developing Further Visible Hair Loss in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

research Long-Term Treatment with Finasteride 1 mg Decreases the Likelihood of Developing Further Visible Hair Loss in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

20 citations , December 2008 in “PubMed”

In this study, treatment with finasteride 1 mg/day for five years significantly reduced the likelihood of further visible hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial of a Novel Formulation of 5% Minoxidil Topical Foam Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

research A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial of a Novel Formulation of 5% Minoxidil Topical Foam Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

142 citations , August 2007 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that a new 5% minoxidil foam formulation significantly increased hair counts and improved hair loss condition in men with androgenetic alopecia over 16 weeks compared to placebo.

research Effect of 5α-Dihydrotestosterone and Testosterone on Apoptosis in Human Dermal Papilla Cells

58 citations , January 2006 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology”

This study found that testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone induced apoptosis in dermal papilla cells from nonbalding scalp regions, suggesting a high androgen stimulus can trigger cell death related to androgenetic alopecia.

research Identification of Androgen-Inducible TGF-β1 Derived from Dermal Papilla Cells as a Key Mediator in Androgenetic Alopecia

78 citations , June 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

TGF-β1 from dermal papilla cells suppresses hair growth, and targeting it may help treat androgenetic alopecia.

research Transplants from Balding and Hairy Androgenetic Alopecia Scalp Regrow Hair Comparably Well on Immunodeficient Mice

17 citations , May 2003 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that miniaturized hair follicles from pattern alopecia can regenerate rapidly when transplanted onto mice and may grow as well as or better than terminal hairs.

Androgen-Inducible TGF-β1 from Balding Dermal Papilla Cells Inhibits Epithelial Cell Growth: A Clue to Understanding Paradoxical Effects of Androgen on Human Hair Growth

research Androgen-Inducible TGF-β1 from Balding Dermal Papilla Cells Inhibits Epithelial Cell Growth: A Clue to Understanding Paradoxical Effects of Androgen on Human Hair Growth

190 citations , October 2002 in “The FASEB journal”

In this study, androgen did not affect keratinocyte growth in coculture with androgenetic alopecia-derived dermal papilla cells, but did significantly suppress keratinocyte growth when androgen receptor was overexpressed in the papilla cells.

Finasteride, a Type 2 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia