Evidence Based Treatments of Alopecia Areata
December 2022
TLDR Minoxidil and finasteride are the only FDA-approved treatments for hair loss caused by genetic and hormonal factors, but their effectiveness is often doubted, indicating a need for new treatments.
Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is a major non-cicatricial alopecia that causes progressive hair follicle miniaturization, largely determined by a person's genetic makeup and hormonal environment. It is characterized by a shortening of the anagen phase and maintenance of the telogen phase. Females with AGA typically experience more diffuse hair loss over the head, while males usually see thinning near the vertex. The only FDA-approved treatments for AGA are minoxidil (used topically) and finasteride (an oral 5α-reductase inhibitor type II inhibitor). However, the effectiveness of these treatments is often questioned, highlighting the need for new therapeutics. This article aims to examine the causes and diagnostic tools used to identify AGA, in order to improve disease outcomes.
