TLDR Finasteride and minoxidil are effective, low-risk treatments for male hair loss, and patient education on these therapies is important.
The document from 2018 provides an overview of hair restoration surgery, defining key terms such as hair follicle (HF), follicular unit (FU), hair density (HD), and follicular density (FD). It explains that a HF produces a single hair, while an FU consists of one to four hair follicles that function together. The term "graft" is discouraged due to its lack of specificity. The document details androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common form of hair loss, influenced by genetics, androgens, and age, and describes the Hamilton-Norwood classification for male AGA progression. It suggests that androgens may play a less significant role in female AGA, with estrogen and aromatase activity being more relevant. For male AGA, finasteride and minoxidil are recommended as combination therapy. The document also covers the principles of hair transplantation, including the retention of DHT insensitivity in transplanted hairs and the similar process of graft placement across different transplantation methods. It concludes that finasteride and minoxidil are effective treatments for male AGA with minimal side effects and stresses the importance of patient education on these therapies.
44 citations,
March 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” The effects of estrogen on human hair growth are unclear and need more research.
139 citations,
June 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Androgenetic alopecia in women needs more research and better management strategies.
80 citations,
August 2002 in “Journal of Dermatology” Best hair growth results from combining finasteride and minoxidil.
47 citations,
December 2000 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” Androgens significantly affect female hair loss, and hormonal treatments may help.
129 citations,
October 2000 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Finasteride helps increase hair growth in men with hair loss.
187 citations,
June 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride effectively treats frontal hair loss with few side effects.
581 citations,
October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride safely and effectively treats male pattern hair loss, but may cause reversible sexual issues and harm male fetuses.
124 citations,
April 1992 in “Journal of Endocrinology/Journal of endocrinology” Beard hair follicles have more androgen receptors than non-balding scalp hair follicles.
71 citations,
May 1991 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Young men with male pattern baldness lose hair density over time without treatment.
70 citations,
April 1990 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Minoxidil treatment increased hair growth for up to 5 years, requiring twice daily application.
July 2021 in “Medical journal, Armed Forces India” Using platelet-rich plasma in hair restoration surgery significantly improves hair density after 6 months and is safe to use.
13 citations,
June 2020 in “Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open” PRP preservation improves hair transplant results better than saline.
July 2018 in “Elsevier eBooks” New hair loss treatments show promise, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.
15 citations,
December 2007 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Hair transplantation has improved with techniques that increase graft survival and patient satisfaction for more natural results.
32 citations,
November 2012 in “Aesthetic Surgery Journal” Hair restoration surgery has advanced, focusing on natural results and may improve further with new techniques and therapies.
