Interventions for female pattern hair loss
May 2016
in “The Cochrane library”

TLDR
Topical minoxidil helps treat female pattern hair loss, but more research needed for other treatments.
The study concluded that, despite some studies having a high risk of bias, there is moderate to low quality evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of topical minoxidil in treating female pattern hair loss (FPHL). No significant difference was found between the effects of 2% and 5% minoxidil. The study found finasteride to be no more effective than a placebo, with this conclusion being based on low quality evidence. There were mixed results from studies evaluating laser devices, although some improvement in total hair count from baseline was noted. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed for other commonly used treatments such as spironolactone, different dosages of finasteride, dutasteride, cyproterone acetate, and laser-based therapy.
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Cited in this study

research Interventions for female pattern hair loss
Minoxidil effectively treats female pattern hair loss.

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Rosemary oil and minoxidil 2% both effectively increase hair count in people with androgenetic alopecia, but rosemary oil causes less scalp itching.
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research Androgenetic Alopecia: An Evidence-Based Treatment Update
Effective treatments for male pattern baldness include oral finasteride and topical minoxidil, while topical minoxidil is best for female pattern baldness.

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Laser device increases hair density, safe for treating hair loss in men and women.
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Female pattern hair loss is caused by multiple factors and while treatments like topical minoxidil, hormone therapy, and low-level light therapy can help, none can fully cure it.

research Low-Level Light Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A 24-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham Device–Controlled Multicenter Trial
Low-level light therapy safely improves hair growth and thickness for androgenetic alopecia.

research Effect of hairpieces on perceived quality of life in female pattern hair loss patients: Questionnaire based study
Hairpieces improve quality of life for women with hair loss.

research Guidelines for management of androgenetic alopecia based on BASP classification-the Asian consensus committee guideline
Use 5% minoxidil or oral finasteride for mild-to-moderate hair loss, combine with hair transplant for severe cases.

research Increased androgen receptor messenger RNA in frontal-parietal hair follicles of women with androgenetic alopecia
Women with hair loss have more androgen receptors in certain hair follicles.

research Mesotherapy using dutasteride-containing preparation in treatment of female pattern hair loss: photographic, morphometric and ultrustructural evaluation
Dutasteride-containing mesotherapy effectively treats female hair loss, improving density and thickness with minimal side effects.

research Effects of topical application of growth factors followed by microneedle therapy in women with female pattern hair loss: A pilot study
Growth factors and microneedle therapy increase hair density in women with hair loss.

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5% minoxidil foam once daily works as well as 2% minoxidil solution twice daily for female hair growth and is more convenient.

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Use minoxidil for hair loss; finasteride and dutasteride for men, dutasteride for women.

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Flutamide improves female hair loss when other treatments fail, but may cause liver toxicity.

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Women with greater androgen sensitivity respond better to finasteride for hair loss.

research S1 guideline for diagnostic evaluation in androgenetic alopecia in men, women and adolescents
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research Iron deficiency in female pattern hair loss, chronic telogen effluvium, and control groups
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research Quality of Life in Australian Women with Female Pattern Hair Loss~!2010-04-19~!2010-07-06~!2010-08-06~!
Australian women with female pattern hair loss have a poorer quality of life, and starting treatment doesn't immediately improve it.
research Study of the Efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in the Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia
Korean red ginseng can significantly increase hair density and thickness in people with androgenic alopecia.

research Evaluation of androgen receptor gene as a candidate gene in female androgenetic alopecia
AR gene not major factor in female hair loss; different from male hair loss.

research Interventions for androgenic alopecia in women
Review finds no permanent solution for female hair loss.

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
Adenosine lotion improves hair growth and thickness in women with hair loss.

research Medical treatments for male and female pattern hair loss
Minoxidil and finasteride treat hair loss in men, while minoxidil treats hair loss in women.

research Female Pattern Hair Loss
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 of which is sensitive to minoxidil
One minoxidil-sensitive potassium channel exists in human hair follicles.

research Topical fulvestrant solution has no effect on male and postmenopausal female androgenetic alopecia: results from two randomized, proof-of-concept studies
Fulvestrant solution doesn't help hair loss in men and postmenopausal women.

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Minoxidil works better for female hair loss than alfatradiol, both safe.
research Female pattern hair loss: current treatment concepts.
Minoxidil 2% and 5% are common treatments for female pattern hair loss, with other options including anti-androgens, oral contraceptives, and hair transplantation.

research Effect of finasteride 5 mg (Proscar) on acne and alopecia in female patients with normal serum levels of free testosterone
Finasteride improves acne and hair loss in women with normal testosterone.

research Reversal of androgenetic alopecia by topical ketoconzole: Relevance of anti-androgenic activity
Ketoconazole lotion can improve hair regrowth for some people with androgenetic alopecia.
research A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 1% topical minoxidil solution in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in Japanese women.
1% topical minoxidil solution significantly improved hair growth in Japanese women with androgenetic alopecia, with no major side effects.

research Follicular miniaturization in female pattern hair loss: clinicopathological correlations
Hair loss severity relates to increased miniaturization in female pattern hair loss.

research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough
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research Androgenetic alopecia and current methods of treatment.

research Treatment of female pattern hair loss with oral antiandrogens
Oral antiandrogens effectively treat female hair loss, with better results in higher hair loss grades.

research Evaluation and treatment of male and female pattern hair loss
Early diagnosis and treatment, using finasteride, minoxidil, or hair transplantation, improves hair loss outcomes.

research Burden of Hair Loss: Stress and the Underestimated Psychosocial Impact of Telogen Effluvium and Androgenetic Alopecia
Hair loss causes stress and affects mental health; treatment and support needed.

research Women who present with female pattern hair loss tend to underestimate the severity of their hair loss
Women with female pattern hair loss often underestimate how severe it is.

research A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 5% and 2% topical minoxidil solutions in the treatment of female pattern hair loss
5% and 2% minoxidil solutions effectively promote hair growth and reduce hair loss, with 5% being slightly more effective but having more side effects.

research Topical Estrogen Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia in Menopausal Females
Topical estrogen helps hair growth in menopausal women with no major side effects.

research Melatonin increases anagen hair rate in women with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse alopecia: results of a pilot randomized controlled trial
Melatonin helps hair growth in women with hair loss.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in Women
Androgenetic alopecia in women needs more research and better management strategies.
research Treatment of hyperandrogenic alopecia in women

research Androgenetic alopecia: pathogenesis and potential for therapy
Hair loss needs more research for better treatments.

research Molecular mechanisms of androgenetic alopecia
AGA causes hair loss by shrinking hair follicles due to DHT binding, and can be treated with finasteride and minoxidil.

research Female pattern hair loss
FPHL is a common, age-related, genetic hair loss with unclear causes and limited treatment options.

research Effects of minoxidil 2% vs. cyproterone acetate treatment on female androgenetic alopecia: a controlled, 12-month randomized trial
Minoxidil works better for female hair loss, but cyproterone reduces scalp oiliness and causes menstrual issues.

research A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness of Botanically Derived Inhibitors of 5-α-Reductase in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia
Plant extracts effectively reduce hair loss and increase growth, offering a safe alternative treatment.

research A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness of Botanically Derived Inhibitors of 5-α-Reductase in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia
Natural 5AR inhibitors effectively improve mild to moderate hair loss in men.

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research Polymorphisms of the Androgen Receptor Gene and the Estrogen Receptor β Gene Are Associated with Androgen Levels in Women1
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research Development of a health-related quality of life questionnaire for women with androgenetic alopecia
WAA-QOL measures impact of hair loss on women's well-being.

research Lack of efficacy of finasteride in postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia
Finasteride doesn't effectively treat hair loss in postmenopausal women.
research Current understanding of androgenetic alopecia. Part I: etiopathogenesis.

research Measuring Reversal of Hair Miniaturization in Androgenetic Alopecia by Follicular Counts in Horizontal Sections of Serial Scalp Biopsies: Results of Finasteride 1mg Treatment of Men and Postmenopausal Women
Finasteride 1mg helps reverse hair miniaturization in men and postmenopausal women.
research Ketoconazole Shampoo: Effect of Long-Term Use in Androgenic Alopecia

research Topical finasteride in the treatment of androgenic alopecia. Preliminary evaluations after a 16-month therapy course
Topical finasteride helps regrow hair and reduce balding without side effects.

research Guidelines of care for androgenetic alopecia
Treat genetic hair loss early with FDA-approved medications and consider hair transplantation.

research Classification scale for male and female androgenetic alopecia.
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
Antimicrobial lotion reduces inflammation and increases hair density in hair loss patients.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in the Female
2% topical minoxidil effectively treats female hair loss with minimal side effects.

research USE OF TOPICAL MINOXIDIL THERAPY FOR ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA IN WOMEN
Minoxidil helps hair growth and reduces shedding in women.

research TREATMENT OF FEMALE ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA WITH MINOXIDIL 2%
Minoxidil 2% effectively treats female hair loss, promoting growth and density.
research Topical minoxidil in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women.

research Psychological characteristics of women with androgenetic alopecia: a controlled study
Women with AGA often face anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem; psychological support is important.

research Quantitative Estimation of Hair Growth I. Androgenetic Alopecia in Women: Effect of Minoxidil
Minoxidil promotes hair growth in women with early-stage alopecia.
research The effect of cyproterone acetate on hair roots and hair shaft diameter in androgenetic alopecia in females
Cyproterone acetate effectively treats female hair loss by increasing healthy hair and decreasing unhealthy hair, but doesn't change hair thickness.

research Safety and efficacy of topical minoxidil in the management of androgenetic alopecia
Minoxidil helps hair growth and prevents hair loss in androgenetic alopecia. It's safe and effective.

research Androgenetic alopecia: Treatment results with topical minoxidil
Topical minoxidil is a safe and effective treatment for hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia.
research [Local therapy of androgenetic alopecia with 17 alpha-estradiol. A controlled, randomized double-blind study (author’s transl)].
Hair lotions with 17 alpha-estradiol can reduce hair loss but won't regrow new hair.

research Classification of the types of androgenetic alopecia (common baldness) occurring in the female sex
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