Treatment with Oral Vitamin D Alone, Topical Minoxidil, or Combination of Both in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Comparative Clinical and Dermoscopic Study

January 2022 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Ghada S. Hassan, M. T. Sadoma, Manal Mohamed Ali Elbatsh, Zainab F Ibrahim

female pattern hair loss FPHL vitamin D topical minoxidil oral vitamin D dermoscopy thin hair single-hair unit Rogaine

From the encyclopedia

Vitamin D →

vitamin you should probably be taking for general health might also help your hair a little

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This study found that combining oral vitamin D with topical minoxidil improved female pattern hair loss more effectively than either treatment alone.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The study involved 45 patients with female pattern hair loss (FPHL) and 15 controls to measure serum level of vitamin D. The patients were divided into three groups: group I received topical minoxidil and oral vitamin D, group II received topical minoxidil, and group III received oral vitamin D for 6 months. The results showed that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. After treatment, group I (topical minoxidil and oral vitamin D) showed statistically significant improvement compared to group II (topical minoxidil alone), while group III (oral vitamin D alone) showed no significant improvement. Dermoscopy revealed that thin hair and single-hair unit were significantly improved in groups I and II, but not in group III. The conclusion is that a combination of oral vitamin D and topical minoxidil is recommended for treating FPHL, as it yielded better results than either treatment alone.

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