Clinical and Phototrichogrammatic Evaluation of Estradiol Replacement Therapy on Hair Growth in Postmenopausal Japanese Women with Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Pilot Study

November 2023 in “ International Journal of Women's Dermatology ”

Yujiro Endo, Yuko Obayashi, Michiaki Murakoshi, Juichiro Saito, Rie Ueki

estradiol hormone replacement therapy HRT female pattern hair loss telogen hair rate hair density hair growth rate hair thickness blood markers estrogen estrogen replacement therapy female pattern baldness

TLDR Hormone replacement therapy may improve hair growth in the frontal hairline of postmenopausal women with hair loss.

This pilot study examined the impact of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on hair growth in 11 postmenopausal Japanese women with female pattern hair loss. The results showed significant improvement in the thinning hair score for the frontal hairline after 6 months of HRT, but no significant changes in the parietal area. The telogen hair rate increased to 9.6% three months after HRT initiation but returned to 7.0% after six months. The force required to pluck hair also increased significantly. No significant changes were observed in hair density, growth rate, and thickness. The study found correlations between changes in hair characteristics and levels of certain blood markers. The study concluded that HRT might have a positive effect on hair growth, particularly in the frontal hairline area, but further research is needed to fully understand the mechanism of estrogen's effects on hair growth.

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