TLDR Spironolactone reduces the enzyme activity that converts testosterone to DHT, helping treat excessive hair growth in women.
In 1985, a study evaluated the effect of spironolactone on genital skin 5 alpha-reductase activity, which is involved in the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in hirsute women (HW) and in vitro. Thirteen hirsute women with a Ferriman-Gallwey score of 23.3 ± 2.8 were treated with 100 mg of spironolactone twice daily for a month, while 23 non-hirsute women served as controls. The study found that hirsute women had significantly higher conversion ratios of testosterone to DHT compared to controls. After treatment, these conversion ratios and the mass of DHT produced significantly decreased. In vitro, spironolactone also inhibited the conversion of testosterone to DHT, with the maximum effect at a concentration of 1.2 X 10^(-5) M. The study concluded that spironolactone directly inhibits 5 alpha-reductase activity, which may partly explain its beneficial effect in treating hirsute women.
142 citations,
February 1985 in “Fertility and sterility” Spironolactone reduced hair thickness and some testosterone levels in women with excessive hair growth.
64 citations,
March 1984 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry/Journal of Steroid Biochemistry” Cyproterone acetate effectively reduced hair growth in hirsute patients by lowering androgen levels and altering androgen metabolism.
183 citations,
March 1982 in “JAMA” Spironolactone is a safe and effective treatment for reducing excessive hair growth in women.
124 citations,
September 1980 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Spironolactone is effective in treating excessive hair growth in women.
60 citations,
September 1979 in “Fertility and sterility” Spironolactone can reduce hair growth in women with hirsutism.
November 2020 in “Elsevier eBooks” Antiandrogens and androgen inhibitors like spironolactone, finasteride, and dutasteride can treat hair loss and skin conditions, but they have risks and side effects, including potential harm to pregnant women and risks of cancer and heart issues. Herbal remedies also have antiandrogenic effects but lack safety validation.
5 citations,
January 2001 in “Advances in protein chemistry” 5α-reductase inhibitors help treat disorders caused by DHT and have potential for future therapies.
3 citations,
January 2001 in “Cambridge University Press eBooks” Finasteride effectively treats hair loss and enlarged prostate in men, with mild side effects.
53 citations,
May 2010 in “PubMed” Spironolactone helps regrow hair in women with hair loss.
15 citations,
May 2004 in “Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America” Treat pattern hair loss with finasteride and topical minoxidil.
24 citations,
January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” Hormonal treatment is effective for women with acne not helped by usual treatments, especially if they have hormonal imbalances.
