Interventions for Female Pattern Hair Loss

May 2012 in “ Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews ”

E.J. van Zuuren, Zbys Fedorowicz, Jan W. Schoones

female pattern hair loss FPHL minoxidil telogen effluvium Rogaine

Studysummary This review found evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of topical minoxidil for treating female pattern hair loss, though many included studies were at high risk of bias.

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Research cited in this study

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A Randomized, Single-Blind Trial of 5% Minoxidil Foam Once Daily Versus 2% Minoxidil Solution Twice Daily in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women

research A Randomized, Single-Blind Trial of 5% Minoxidil Foam Once Daily Versus 2% Minoxidil Solution Twice Daily in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women

100 citations , June 2011 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that a once-daily 5% minoxidil topical foam is as effective as a twice-daily 2% minoxidil topical solution for hair growth in women with androgenetic alopecia, with fewer side effects and greater styling convenience.

research Clinical Severity Does Not Reliably Predict Quality of Life in Women With Alopecia Areata, Telogen Effluvium, or Androgenic Alopecia

86 citations , May 2011 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that patients with alopecia perceive their hair loss as more severe than dermatologists do, and their own ratings of hair loss severity better reflect their quality of life impacts.

research Role of Genetics and Sex Steroid Hormones in Male Androgenetic Alopecia and Female Pattern Hair Loss: An Update

87 citations , March 2011 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology”

This review explores the current understanding of genetic and hormonal influences on male androgenetic alopecia and female pattern hair loss, providing guidance for clinicians but reports no new results.

research Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss with the Androgen Receptor Antagonist Flutamide

30 citations , March 2011 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology”

This case report found that a woman's hair loss, which progressed while using spironolactone and topical minoxidil, reversed after switching to flutamide therapy.

research Iron Deficiency in Female Pattern Hair Loss, Chronic Telogen Effluvium, and Control Groups

72 citations , October 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study concluded that iron deficiency is common among women but not more prevalent in those with female pattern hair loss or chronic telogen effluvium compared to control subjects without hair loss.

research S1 Guideline for Diagnostic Evaluation in Androgenetic Alopecia in Men, Women, and Adolescents

151 citations , August 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This guideline reviews the diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia and offers expert consensus recommendations tailored to males, females, and adolescents, but reports no new clinical results.

research Quality of Life in Australian Women with Female Pattern Hair Loss

14 citations , August 2010 in “The Open Dermatology Journal”

This article highlights the absence of empirical research on the psychological impact of female pattern hair loss and treatment initiation in Australian women, reporting no new clinical findings.

research Evaluation of Androgen Receptor Gene as a Candidate Gene in Female Androgenetic Alopecia

23 citations , May 2009 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

In this study, no association was found between the AR gene and type II androgenetic alopecia in Egyptian women, suggesting it is not a useful biomarker for predisposition.

research Hair Loss in Women: Comprehensive Overview and Treatment Options

81 citations , March 2009 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”

This review discusses the classifications, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies for female pattern hair loss, but reports no clinical results.

Adenosine Increases Anagen Hair Growth And Thick Hairs In Japanese Women With Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Pilot, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

research Adenosine Increases Anagen Hair Growth And Thick Hairs In Japanese Women With Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Pilot, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

33 citations , December 2008 in “Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that 0.75% adenosine lotion significantly improved hair growth and thickness in Japanese women with female pattern hair loss compared to a placebo.

research Understanding and Management of Female Pattern Alopecia

30 citations , November 2008 in “Facial Plastic Surgery”

This review discusses hair transplant techniques for female pattern hair loss and reports no new clinical results; it highlights the benefits of transplants combined with various treatments for improved hair density and styling options.

research Medical Treatments for Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss

212 citations , September 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This review discusses the various treatment options for male and female pattern hair loss and provides no new clinical results; the authors outline the most effective strategies based on existing evidence.

research Female Pattern Hair Loss

16 citations , June 2008 in “Springer eBooks”

Over 50% of women over 50 experience hair loss, with minoxidil being the only proven effective treatment.

research Human Hair Follicles Contain Two Forms of ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels, Only One Sensitive to Minoxidil

102 citations , February 2008 in “The FASEB Journal”

This study found that human hair follicles express ATP-sensitive potassium channels, suggesting that minoxidil acts on these channels and that drugs targeting them may treat hair disorders.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Minoxidil and Topical Alfatradiol in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women

research Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Minoxidil and Topical Alfatradiol in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women

56 citations , April 2007 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft”

This study found that 12 months of minoxidil treatment increased hair density and thickness in women with androgenetic alopecia, while alfatradiol primarily stabilized hair loss.

research Effect of Finasteride 5 mg (Proscar) on Acne and Alopecia in Female Patients with Normal Serum Levels of Free Testosterone

43 citations , January 2007 in “Gynecological Endocrinology”

This study found that 9 out of 12 women with acne or alopecia showed subjective improvement with finasteride treatment despite having normal free testosterone levels, suggesting a potential role of 5alpha-reductase activity.

research Characteristic Features of Japanese Women's Hair With Aging and Hair Loss

76 citations , December 2006 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

This study observed that Japanese women experience diffuse central hair loss after age 40, characterized by reduced hair density and thicker hair ratio rather than vellus-like hairs.

research Reversal of Androgenetic Alopecia by Topical Ketoconazole: Relevance of Anti-Androgenic Activity

38 citations , September 2006 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

This study evaluated the effect of 2% ketoconazole lotion for androgenetic alopecia, but the results regarding its effectiveness on clinical appearance remained unclear.

research Nourkrin: Objective and Subjective Effects and Tolerability in Persons with Hair Loss

15 citations , September 2006 in “Journal of International Medical Research”

This study found that Nourkrin®, based on marine proteins, significantly improved hair growth in participants with hair loss, with good tolerability and no reported side effects.

research Follicular Miniaturization in Female Pattern Hair Loss: Clinicopathological Correlations

100 citations , June 2006 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that as hair loss severity increased in women with female pattern hair loss, the number of vellus follicles also rose, indicating miniaturization of terminal hair follicles.

research A Pilot Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Topically Applied Niacin Derivatives for Treatment of Female Pattern Alopecia

27 citations , December 2005 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This study found that topical application of niacin derivatives significantly increased hair fullness in women with female pattern hair loss compared to a placebo after six months.

research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough

193 citations , August 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

This study found that the prevalence of androgenetic alopecia increases with age among both men and women in Maryborough, Australia, with 57% of women and 73.5% of men aged 80 and over affected.

research Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss With Oral Antiandrogens

179 citations , March 2005 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that 88% of women with female pattern hair loss who received oral antiandrogens saw no progression or improvement in their condition.

research Evaluation and Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss

203 citations , December 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This article reviews the historical developments in understanding and treating male pattern hair loss, emphasizing the role of dihydrotestosterone and 5α-reductase inhibitors, but reports no new clinical findings.

research Burden of Hair Loss: Stress and the Underestimated Psychosocial Impact of Telogen Effluvium and Androgenetic Alopecia

162 citations , August 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study suggests that stress negatively affects hair growth by inducing inflammation and early hair cycle transitions in mice, which might inform strategies for managing stress-related hair loss in humans.

research The Reliability of Horizontally Sectioned Scalp Biopsies in the Diagnosis of Chronic Diffuse Telogen Hair Loss in Women

137 citations , July 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study observed that triple horizontal scalp biopsies provided a more accurate diagnosis of female pattern hair loss in women than a single horizontal biopsy, especially for those with advanced hair loss.

research Women Who Present With Female Pattern Hair Loss Tend To Underestimate The Severity Of Their Hair Loss

29 citations , April 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that women with female pattern hair loss awaiting treatment tend to underestimate their hair loss severity compared to their clinicians' evaluations.

research A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of 5% and 2% Topical Minoxidil Solutions in the Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss

219 citations , March 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this 48-week trial, 5% topical minoxidil was more effective than both 2% minoxidil and placebo in promoting hair growth in women with female pattern hair loss, with notable improvements in nonvellus hair count and hair growth assessments.

Melatonin Increases Anagen Hair Rate in Women With Androgenetic Alopecia or Diffuse Alopecia: Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

research Melatonin Increases Anagen Hair Rate in Women With Androgenetic Alopecia or Diffuse Alopecia: Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

78 citations , February 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This article reviews the potential impact of melatonin on hair growth, noting its benefits observed in animals, but reports no clinical results in humans to date.

research Topical Estrogen Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia in Menopausal Females

22 citations , January 2004 in “Dermatology”

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research Decreased Serum Ferritin Is Associated With Alopecia in Women

163 citations , November 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that women with androgenetic alopecia or alopecia areata have significantly lower serum ferritin levels than those without hair loss, suggesting a potential link between these types of alopecia and decreased iron stores.

research Hair Regrowth and Increased Hair Tensile Strength Using the HairMax LaserComb for Low-Level Laser Therapy

75 citations , August 2003 in “International journal of cosmetic surgery and aesthetic dermatology”

This study found that low level laser therapy with a HairMax LaserComb improved hair counts and tensile strength in patients with androgenetic alopecia, particularly in males and vertex areas.

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139 citations , June 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

This article reviews androgenetic alopecia in women, highlighting diagnosis criteria and noting that topical minoxidil is currently the only proven treatment for hair growth; it reports no clinical trial findings.

research Treatment of Hyperandrogenic Alopecia in Women

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.

research TrichoScan

28 citations , December 2002 in “Der Hautarzt”

TrichoScan accurately measures hair growth and loss, showing increased hair counts and thickness with treatment.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: Pathogenesis and Potential for Therapy

174 citations , November 2002 in “Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine”

This review discusses the genetic factors contributing to androgenetic alopecia and highlights the potential for developing more effective therapies based on recent discoveries, but reports no new clinical results.

research Molecular Mechanisms of Androgenetic Alopecia

229 citations , August 2002 in “Experimental Gerontology”

This paper discusses key mechanisms of androgen metabolism in androgenetic alopecia and reports the effectiveness of treatments like oral finasteride and topical minoxidil, highlighting the limited success rate due to factors like follicular inflammation.

research Female Pattern Hair Loss

86 citations , July 2002 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

This review discusses female pattern hair loss, emphasizing its complex causes and the limited treatment options available, and reports no new clinical results.

research Effects of Minoxidil 2% vs. Cyproterone Acetate Treatment on Female Androgenetic Alopecia: A Controlled, 12-Month Randomized Trial

149 citations , June 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Minoxidil works better for female hair loss, but cyproterone reduces scalp oiliness and causes menstrual issues.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness of Botanically Derived Inhibitors of 5-Alpha-Reductase in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

research A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness of Botanically Derived Inhibitors of 5-Alpha-Reductase in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

68 citations , April 2002 in “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine”

This study suggests that botanical 5AR inhibitors like Serenoa repens and β-sitosterol may improve symptoms of androgenetic alopecia, with 60% of treated subjects showing improvement compared to placebo.

research Female Pattern Hair Loss

226 citations , September 2001 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Hair loss in women is genetic, diagnosed by examination and biopsy, and treated with minoxidil, finasteride, or transplantation.

research The Psychology of Hair Loss and Its Implications for Patient Care

138 citations , March 2001 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

This review discusses the relationship between perceived stress and hair loss or graying, exploring hair follicles as a model system but reports no new clinical results.

research Efficacy and Tolerability of Hairgain in Individuals with Hair Loss: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

18 citations , February 2001 in “Journal of International Medical Research”

In this study, a marine protein-based agent improved hair growth in subjects with various types of hair loss over a 12-month period, with good tolerability and no reported side effects.

research Lack of Efficacy of Finasteride in Postmenopausal Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

239 citations , November 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, finasteride 1 mg/day for 12 months did not improve hair growth or slow hair thinning in postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo.

research Development of a Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

31 citations , November 2000 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

This study developed the Women's Androgenetic Alopecia Quality of Life Questionnaire, which shows high reliability and internal consistency for assessing the impact of AGA on women's quality of life.

research A Hair Growth Questionnaire for Use in the Evaluation of Therapeutic Effects in Men

36 citations , January 1998 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

This study developed a standardized questionnaire to measure patient-perceived changes in hair growth and appearance, which showed significant favoring of active treatment over placebo in a clinical trial for male androgenetic alopecia.

research Ketoconazole Shampoo: Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia

92 citations , January 1998 in “Dermatology”

This study found that 2% ketoconazole shampoo improved hair density and anagen follicle proportion in androgenic alopecia similarly to minoxidil treatment, suggesting a potential role for Malassezia in inflammation.

research Topical Finasteride in the Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia: Preliminary Evaluations After a 16-Month Therapy Course

30 citations , January 1997 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

This study reported that a 0.005% finasteride solution may encourage hair regrowth and reduce balding areas in patients with androgenic alopecia, without significant absorption or adverse effects.

research Classification Scale for Male and Female Androgenetic Alopecia

6 citations , February 1996 in “Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics”

Scale created to measure hair loss in men and women; MK-386 reduces acne; Niaspan treats dyslipidemia; minoxidil increases heart rate.

research Improvement in the Inflammatory Aspect of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study with an Antimicrobial Lotion

40 citations , January 1996 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

This study found that using an antimicrobial lotion for 18 months may reduce inflammation and potentially partially reverse hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in the Female

82 citations , March 1994 in “Archives of Dermatology”

This study found that a 2% topical minoxidil solution significantly increased hair regrowth compared to placebo in women with androgenetic alopecia over 32 weeks.

research Use of Topical Minoxidil Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia in Women

58 citations , October 1993 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that 2% topical minoxidil solution was significantly more effective than placebo in promoting new hair growth in women with androgenetic alopecia.

research Treatment of Female Androgenetic Alopecia with Minoxidil 2%

43 citations , November 1992 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that minoxidil 2% increased nonvellus hair counts in women with female androgenetic alopecia without causing serious side effects, compared to a placebo.

research Psychological Characteristics of Women with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Controlled Study

58 citations , September 1991 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that women with androgenetic alopecia reported more psychosocial problems and lower self-esteem than women with non-visible skin conditions and men with androgenetic alopecia, which they attributed to their hair loss.

research Quantitative Estimation of Hair Growth: Androgenetic Alopecia in Women and the Effect of Minoxidil

85 citations , December 1990 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Minoxidil promotes hair growth in women with early-stage alopecia.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: Treatment Results with Topical Minoxidil

39 citations , March 1987 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Topical minoxidil is a safe and effective treatment for hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia.

research Safety and Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia

67 citations , March 1987 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that both 2% and 3% minoxidil resulted in a significant increase in hair counts for participants with androgenetic alopecia over 12 months.

research Topical Tretinoin for Hair Growth Promotion

73 citations , October 1986 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that a combination of topical tretinoin and 0.5% minoxidil resulted in terminal hair regrowth in 66% of subjects with androgenetic alopecia over one year.

research Local Therapy of Androgenetic Alopecia with 17α-Estradiol

54 citations , January 1980 in “Dermatology”

This study found that topical application of hair lotion containing 17α-estradiol may reduce androgenetic hair loss, as 63% of treated patients showed a decrease in telogen hairs compared to 37% in the control group.

research Classification of the Types of Androgenetic Alopecia (Common Baldness) Occurring in the Female Sex

666 citations , September 1977 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This article presents a classification system for stages of female-pattern androgenetic alopecia to aid early diagnosis and mentions existing systems for rare male-pattern cases, but reports no new clinical results.