The Use of Botulinum Toxin in the Treatment of Male Pattern Baldness
May 2013
in “
Toxicon
”
Studysummary Botulinum toxin injections can reduce hair loss and stimulate new hair growth in some men with male pattern baldness.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
In a study conducted 10 years ago, 50 male subjects aged between 19 and 57 years with Norwood/Hamilton ratings of II to IV were treated with peripheral scalp injections of botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) to determine if it would reduce hair loss or stimulate hair growth. The 60-week study showed a response rate of 75% with 40 subjects completing the study. The mean hair counts for the entire group showed a statistically significant increase of 18% between baseline and week 48, similar to the results reported with Propecia®. Hair loss was reduced by 39%. The study concluded that strategically placed BTX-A injections appear able to indirectly modify scalp physiology, resulting in reduced hair loss and new hair growth in some men with androgenetic alopecia.
