Research Highlights: Dermatology and Hair Loss Studies
July 2011
in “
Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association
”
TLDR Antibiotic ointment and petrolatum ointment heal wounds similarly; iron deficiency isn't linked to certain hair loss in women; griseofulvin and terbinafine are equally effective for fungal scalp infections but work better on different types.
The document summarizes three studies related to dermatology and hair loss. The first study with 30 patients found no significant difference in wound healing between an antibiotic-based ointment and a petrolatum-based ointment after dermatological procedures, but noted a case of allergic contact dermatitis with the antibiotic ointment. The second study, involving 457 women, showed no significant increase in iron deficiency among women with female pattern hair loss or chronic telogen effluvium compared to controls, suggesting iron deficiency may not be a factor in these conditions. The third study, a meta-analysis of 2,094 subjects, found no significant difference in cure rates for tinea capitis between griseofulvin and terbinafine, but each medication was favored for different types of the infection, with only minor adverse events reported.