Diagnosing and Treating Hair Loss

August 2009 in “ PubMed ”

Anne Mounsey, Sean W Reed

hair loss scarring alopecia nonscarring alopecia dermatologist scalp biopsy alopecia areata tinea capitis erythematous patches scaly patches male pattern hair loss female pattern hair loss topical minoxidil finasteride telogen effluvium diffuse alopecia areata Rogaine Propecia

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This article discusses different types of hair loss, their potential causes, and treatment options, but it reports no new clinical findings; the authors emphasize the importance of considering the emotional impact on patients.

Automatically generated from the study's abstract, not written by a person, and not a review of the full paper. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Read the original study, and consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

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Research cited in this study

32 / 32 results

research Interventions for Alopecia Areata

164 citations , April 2008 in “Cochrane library”

This review of interventions for alopecia areata found no significant treatment benefits for hair growth compared to placebo, indicating a need for larger, well-conducted studies.

research Traction Alopecia: 2% Topical Minoxidil Shows Promise. Report of Two Cases

40 citations , December 2006 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This article reports two cases where 2% topical minoxidil showed promise in treating traction alopecia, but it does not offer broader clinical conclusions.

research Finasteride Induced Depression: A Prospective Study

99 citations , October 2006 in “BMC clinical pharmacology”

This preliminary study suggests that finasteride might cause depressive symptoms, indicating the need for cautious prescription in patients at high risk for depression.

research The Diagnosis and Treatment of Iron Deficiency and Its Potential Relationship to Hair Loss

207 citations , April 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This review discusses the complexities of diagnosing and treating iron deficiency related to nutritional anemia and hair loss, concluding that routine screening and supplementation for hair loss are not yet supported by sufficient evidence.

research Female Pattern Hair Loss and Its Relationship to Permanent/Cicatricial Alopecia: A New Perspective

73 citations , November 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

This article reviews the potential relationship between different forms of permanent hair loss such as cicatricial pattern hair loss and discusses related conditions, reporting no new clinical findings.

research Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss With Oral Antiandrogens

179 citations , March 2005 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that 88% of women with female pattern hair loss who received oral antiandrogens saw no progression or improvement in their condition.

research EEMCO Guidance for the Assessment of Hair Shedding and Alopecia

51 citations , January 2004 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology”

This review discusses various techniques for evaluating hair shedding and alopecia but reports no new clinical results. The authors emphasize the value of specific clinical and instrumental methods in assessing hair growth.

research Decreased Serum Ferritin Is Associated With Alopecia in Women

163 citations , November 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that women with androgenetic alopecia or alopecia areata have significantly lower serum ferritin levels than those without hair loss, suggesting a potential link between these types of alopecia and decreased iron stores.

research Guidelines for the Management of Alopecia Areata

182 citations , October 2003 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

These guidelines for alopecia areata management, prepared by the British Association of Dermatologists, provide evidence-based treatment recommendations and insights into the condition's epidemiology, diagnosis, and investigation.

research The Effects of Minoxidil, 1% Pyrithione Zinc, and a Combination of Both on Hair Density: A Randomized Controlled Trial

57 citations , August 2003 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that daily use of 1% pyrithione zinc shampoo modestly improved hair growth over 26 weeks, although these effects were less than those of 5% minoxidil.

research Hypertrichosis in Females Applying Minoxidil Topical Solution and in Normal Controls

63 citations , April 2003 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study found that minoxidil topical solution was associated with a dose-related occurrence of hypertrichosis, especially facial hair, in women treated for androgenetic alopecia.

research Progestogens With Antiandrogenic Properties

164 citations , January 2003 in “Drugs”

research Treatment of Hyperandrogenic Alopecia in Women

108 citations , January 2003 in “Fertility and Sterility”

This study found that flutamide at 250 mg daily modestly improved hair thinning in premenopausal women with hyperandrogenic alopecia over one year, while cyproterone acetate and finasteride were not effective.

research There Is No Clear Association Between Low Serum Ferritin And Chronic Diffuse Telogen Hair Loss

83 citations , November 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found no direct relationship between low serum ferritin and chronic diffuse telogen hair loss in women, questioning the usefulness of serum ferritin measurement and iron supplementation for managing this condition.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of 5% Topical Minoxidil Versus 2% Topical Minoxidil and Placebo in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

research A Randomized Clinical Trial of 5% Topical Minoxidil Versus 2% Topical Minoxidil and Placebo in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

269 citations , August 2002 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that 5% topical minoxidil significantly increased hair regrowth and improved psychosocial perceptions of hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia compared to 2% topical minoxidil and placebo over 48 weeks.

research Comparative Efficacy of Various Treatment Regimens for Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

80 citations , August 2002 in “Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that combining oral finasteride with topical minoxidil resulted in the greatest improvement in hair growth for male patients with androgenetic alopecia, compared to using any single treatment.

research Effects of Minoxidil 2% vs. Cyproterone Acetate Treatment on Female Androgenetic Alopecia: A Controlled, 12-Month Randomized Trial

149 citations , June 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Minoxidil works better for female hair loss, but cyproterone reduces scalp oiliness and causes menstrual issues.

research Lack of Efficacy of Finasteride in Postmenopausal Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

239 citations , November 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, finasteride 1 mg/day for 12 months did not improve hair growth or slow hair thinning in postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo.

research Chronic Treatment with Finasteride Daily Does Not Affect Spermatogenesis or Semen Production in Young Men

104 citations , October 1999 in “The Journal of Urology”

This study concluded that daily treatment with 1 mg finasteride did not affect spermatogenesis or semen production in young men and had small, reversible effects on prostate volume and serum PSA.

research Treatment of Hair Loss

370 citations , September 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

This article discusses the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata with finasteride and minoxidil but reports no new clinical results.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Frontal Male Pattern Hair Loss

187 citations , June 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study reported that finasteride 1 mg/day significantly increased hair growth and slowed hair loss in men with frontal scalp hair thinning over one year, and these benefits continued or improved in the second year.

research Efficacy of Topical Sensitizers in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

132 citations , November 1998 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This review evaluates the efficacy and safety of topical sensitizers in treating alopecia areata but reports no new clinical findings.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

581 citations , October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In male pattern hair loss, this study found that finasteride 1 mg daily significantly slowed hair loss and increased hair growth over two years compared to placebo.

research Ketoconazole Shampoo: Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia

92 citations , January 1998 in “Dermatology”

This study found that 2% ketoconazole shampoo improved hair density and anagen follicle proportion in androgenic alopecia similarly to minoxidil treatment, suggesting a potential role for Malassezia in inflammation.

research The Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata

89 citations , October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

This review discusses androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata through a systems biology lens, emphasizing the role of multi-omics data integration to explore molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies, but offers no new clinical results.

research Guidelines of Care for Androgenetic Alopecia

37 citations , September 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Treat genetic hair loss early with FDA-approved medications and consider hair transplantation.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: An Autosomal Dominant Disorder

80 citations , January 1995 in “The American Journal of Medicine”

Hair loss in androgenetic alopecia is caused by genetic factors and androgen excess, and can be treated with combined therapies.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in the Female

82 citations , March 1994 in “Archives of Dermatology”

This study found that a 2% topical minoxidil solution significantly increased hair regrowth compared to placebo in women with androgenetic alopecia over 32 weeks.

research Profile of Alopecia Areata: A Questionnaire Analysis of Patients and Families

161 citations , March 1992 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

This study analyzed survey responses from 800 alopecia areata patients and found a possible genetic association with increased insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in relatives but not in the patients themselves.

Hair Growth Effects of Oral Administration of Finasteride, a Steroid 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor, Alone and in Combination with Topical Minoxidil in the Balding Stumptail Macaque

research Hair Growth Effects of Oral Administration of Finasteride, a Steroid 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor, Alone and in Combination with Topical Minoxidil in the Balding Stumptail Macaque

34 citations , February 1992 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”

In this study, the combination of finasteride and minoxidil significantly increased hair growth in balding male stumptail macaques compared to each drug alone.

research Topical Minoxidil in Male Pattern Baldness: Effects of Discontinuation of Treatment

57 citations , July 1987 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, minoxidil treatment was associated with an increase in nonvellus scalp hairs, but this effect was not sustained once the treatment was stopped.

research Oral Spironolactone Therapy for Female Patients with Acne, Hirsutism, or Androgenic Alopecia

101 citations , January 1985 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This article discusses oral spironolactone therapy for female patients with acne, hirsutism, or androgenic alopecia and reports no new clinical results.