115 citations
,
March 2019 in “Nature Communications” This study identified significant genetic associations with frontal fibrosing alopecia at four genomic loci, suggesting it is a genetically predisposed immuno-inflammatory disorder influenced by the HLA-B*07: 02 allele.
5 citations
,
June 2018 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas” This study found that despite only topical minoxidil and oral finasteride being approved for androgenetic alopecia in Spain, dermatologists commonly prescribe various off-label treatments for both male and female patients.
10 citations
,
April 2018 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas” This study describes the prescribing habits of Spanish dermatologists, highlighting that topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are the most common treatments for male AGA and postmenopausal female AGA.
67 citations
,
March 2018 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” This study reported that estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives, antiandrogens, and insulin sensitizers are more effective than placebo in treating hirsutism in women, with combination therapies generally proving superior to monotherapy.
11 citations
,
December 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” This letter highlights that levonorgestrel intrauterine devices may lead to fewer systemic side effects, like acne, compared to its oral administration due to lower systemic levels of progestogens.
6 citations
,
July 2017 in “Case Reports” This case study describes a 15-year-old girl with progressive hair thinning and reduced hair density at the frontal scalp, with a family history of alopecia.
54 citations
,
June 2015 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” This study reports that oral spironolactone may be a useful and low-cost first-line treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa in women, with relatively few side effects.
90 citations
,
April 2013 in “Dermatology online journal” This article reviews various medical treatments for hidradenitis suppurativa based on the author's experience with over 350 patients, but it reports no new clinical findings.
33 citations
,
November 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study reported that female pattern hair loss was prevalent in 11.8% of women aged 30 and older and was associated with high fasting glucose, fewer childbirths, oral contraceptive use, and excessive ultraviolet exposure.
27 citations
,
October 2011 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study builds on previous findings by associating female pattern hair loss with gene polymorphisms related to oestrogen activity, suggesting oestrogen's role in the condition.
76 citations
,
December 2009 in “Clinics in Dermatology” This review discusses the indications, contraindications, and potential for using hormonal therapy as a first-line treatment for acne in females, but reports no new clinical results.
77 citations
,
April 2009 in “British Journal of Dermatology” In this study, genetic variation in the CYP19A1 gene, particularly the common rs4646 C allele, was associated with an increased risk of female pattern hair loss, especially in women under 40.
47 citations
,
September 2008 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that women with androgenetic alopecia experience diffuse hair loss due to a decrease in terminal hairs and an increase in vellus hairs per follicular unit.
502 citations
,
February 2008 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” This review discusses hirsutism management guidelines, recommending androgen testing only for women with abnormal hirsutism scores and advocating for combined therapy approaches depending on severity and underlying conditions, but it reports no new clinical results.
1 citations
,
October 2006 in “Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care” This case report describes a woman who developed a 5 cm patch of scalp hair loss four months after receiving an Implanon contraceptive implant, with no previous history of hair loss or scalp issues.
108 citations
,
March 2006 in “Archives of Dermatology” This study observed that 62% of premenopausal women with female pattern hair loss reported improvement when treated with oral finasteride and an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol.
99 citations
,
April 2005 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” This preliminary study suggests that finasteride may be an effective treatment option for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa, as six out of seven participants showed significant improvement.
118 citations
,
September 2004 in “Clinics in Dermatology” This review discusses the role of hormones in acne vulgaris and highlights the need for further research on their mechanisms of action; it reports no new clinical results.
39 citations
,
August 2004 in “International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics” This study found that both finasteride and a regimen of cyproterone acetate plus ethinyl estradiol effectively reduced hirsutism in women, with similar results despite differing hormonal effects.
192 citations
,
September 2003 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” This study suggests that metformin may be more effective than Dianette in treating moderate to severe hirsutism in women with PCOS, while also reducing markers of insulin resistance.
12 citations
,
January 2003 in “PubMed” This study reported that Diane-35 treatment over 6-9 months reduced hair loss, hair thinning, and seborrhoea in women with androgenetic alopecia.
164 citations
,
January 2003 in “Drugs” 
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.
78 citations
,
January 2000 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” This study found that the progestins norgestimate and dienogest may help treat clinical hyperandrogeny in women by inhibiting skin 5 alpha-reductase activity with minimal androgenic potential.
113 citations
,
April 1999 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” This study found that all four treatments—flutamide, finasteride, ketoconazole, and EE-CPA—significantly reduced hirsutism, but EE-CPA and flutamide appeared most effective, with varying effects on androgen levels and side-effect profiles.
75 citations
,
March 1999 in “Fertility and sterility” This study concluded that finasteride, cyproterone acetate, and flutamide were similarly effective at reducing hirsutism in women, though they acted through different mechanisms.
49 citations
,
June 1998 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” In this study, both cyproterone acetate-estrogen combination (Diane®) and finasteride were effective in reducing hirsutism, but Diane® showed greater long-term efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
62 citations
,
December 1995 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” This study found that combining a GnRH agonist with a low-dose oral contraceptive was more effective in treating hirsutism than either agent alone and prevented hypoestrogenic side effects.
83 citations
,
April 1992 in “Clinical Endocrinology” This study found that treatment with cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol increased hair density in women with diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia, particularly when serum ferritin levels were above 40 μg/l.
94 citations
,
July 1991 in “Clinical endocrinology” In this study, cyproterone acetate at 2 mg daily was found to be as effective as higher doses in reducing hair growth for hirsute women over 12 months.
16 citations
,
January 1989 in “Springer eBooks” Cyproterone acetate effectively treats female hair loss by increasing healthy hair and decreasing unhealthy hair, but doesn't change hair thickness.
3 citations
,
June 1981 in “PubMed” This article reviews the skin changes that can occur with hormonal contraceptive use and highlights various mechanisms and potential treatment strategies but reports no new clinical results.
39 citations
,
January 1980 in “Dermatology” In this study, cyproterone acetate with ethinyl estradiol effectively treated acne, hirsutism, and alopecia in women, with the highest success in acne and rare side effects similar to estrogen contraceptives.
16 citations
,
August 1967 in “JAMA” This study reports that diffuse alopecia of the scalp developed in some women during or after using oral contraceptive drugs, suggesting a potential link between the medication and hair loss.
