August 2025 in “International Journal of Pharmaceutics” In AGA animal models, this study found that finasteride-loaded microspheres provided rapid and sustained dihydrotestosterone suppression, promoting hair regrowth through dual-phase drug release.
July 2025 in “Pharmaceutics” This review discusses the application of transdermal drug delivery systems for androgenetic alopecia and explores new technologies to enhance drug penetration but reports no clinical results.
June 2025 in “Pharmaceutics” This study found that ethosomes containing 30% ethanol slightly improved the targeting of dutasteride to hair follicles in vitro, with a higher targeting factor compared to dried ethosomes and controls after 24 hours on porcine skin.
April 2025 in “Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology” This study reviewed how certain phytochemicals can stimulate hair follicles, promote keratinocyte proliferation, and engage specific signaling pathways like Wnt/β-catenin and AKT, suggesting these natural compounds may offer safer alternatives for promoting hair growth. However, challenges in bioavailability and formulation standardization remain to be addressed.
1 citations
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April 2025 in “Drug Delivery and Translational Research” February 2025 in “International Journal of Biological Macromolecules” This study developed a NIR light-triggered NO-releasing hydrogel that promotes angiogenesis, repairs damaged dermal papilla cells, reduces inflammation, and improves the nutrient supply and follicular environment in animal models, offering a promising treatment strategy for androgenic alopecia.
January 2025 in “International Journal of Pharmaceutics” A new gel improves hair loss treatment by effectively delivering minoxidil and finasteride to the scalp.
January 2025 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery” This study discusses the limitations of current FDA-approved treatments for androgenic alopecia, noting significant sexual side effects with oral finasteride and formulation challenges with topical minoxidil, and highlights the potential of nanocarriers to improve drug delivery to hair follicles.
2 citations
,
January 2025 in “Naunyn-Schmiedeberg s Archives of Pharmacology” Nanostructured lipid carriers can improve alopecia treatment by enhancing drug delivery and promoting hair growth.
January 2025 in “RSC Advances” This study reported that a new formulation of finasteride solid lipid nanoparticles, combined with LPC and NTC, enhanced hair growth in mice without visible skin reactions, suggesting it could effectively manage androgenetic alopecia.
December 2024 in “Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research” This study reviews the performance and safety of synthetic medications like minoxidil and finasteride compared to herbal remedies such as saw palmetto for treating alopecia, highlighting the need for more research to better understand their therapeutic roles and optimize patient care.
November 2024 in “Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” This review discusses various herbal alternatives, including rosemary oil and others, for managing androgenetic alopecia but reports that more research is needed to confirm the efficacy of these natural remedies.
4 citations
,
October 2024 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” This study found that ritlecitinib improved patient-reported outcomes related to hair growth in individuals with alopecia areata, with some experiencing clinically meaningful hair regrowth, although changes in emotional symptoms and activity limitations were minimal and similar across treatment groups.
This study reports that Hair RiseTM microemulsion, made from plant extracts, significantly enhanced hair follicle cell growth and improved hair growth signaling pathways, suggesting it as a plant-based alternative for androgenetic alopecia treatment.
September 2024 in “Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces” This study found that cedrol nanoemulsions significantly promote hair follicle regeneration and reduce DHT levels in an androgenic alopecia mouse model, suggesting potential efficacy in AGA treatment.
September 2024 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” In this study, Terminalia bellirica extracts promoted hair regrowth in testosterone-induced AGA mice, possibly by inhibiting type II 5α-reductase activity and enhancing the MAPK signaling pathway.
July 2024 in “Pharmaceutics” In a mouse model of androgenetic alopecia, this study found that a novel hydrogel containing minoxidil-incorporated engineered exosomes (Gel@MNs) enhanced hair regeneration more effectively than conventional minoxidil, increasing hair follicle number and size while reducing skin irritation.
June 2024 in “The Open dermatology journal” In this study, researchers reported that an herbal extract with dihydroquercetin glucoside, epigallocatechin gallate glucoside, zinc, and glycine showed similar effectiveness and safety to minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia over 24 weeks, with no significant differences in hair growth outcomes between the groups.
11 citations
,
April 2024 in “Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology” This study found compelling genetic evidence linking atopic and allergic conditions with the development of alopecia areata, suggesting a need for closer monitoring in affected individuals.
April 2024 in “Expert opinion on emerging drugs” In this research review, the authors note that while topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are FDA-approved treatments for male androgenetic alopecia, some patients experience inadequate responses or side effects, prompting exploration of alternative therapies like newer 5-α reductase inhibitors and androgen receptor antagonists.
March 2024 in “Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine” This study found that a hair tonic containing 1% teak leaf extract significantly increased hair growth and user satisfaction in men with androgenic alopecia after 24 weeks, without causing adverse effects, and was comparable to the standard treatment, minoxidil.
February 2024 in “Benha Journal of Applied Sciences” This article reviews the current understanding, clinical features, diagnostic tests, and treatment options for androgenetic alopecia and reports no new clinical results.
February 2024 in “Journal of Molecular Structure” In this study, researchers developed a supramolecular hydrogel combining minoxidil and salicylic acid, finding that it accelerates hair growth and enhances hair follicle regeneration in vivo, suggesting its potential as an effective treatment for alopecia.
February 2024 in “Drug Delivery and Translational Research” In this study, a newly developed cardamonin-loaded liposomal formulation significantly enhanced hair growth and improved hair follicle performance in mice with androgenic alopecia.
January 2024 in “Brazilian Journal of Hair Health” This integrative literature review suggests that phytotherapeutic products, like Saw palmetto and Green tea, could serve as viable alternatives to current medications like finasteride for treating androgenetic alopecia, potentially offering fewer side effects.
January 2024 in “JEADV clinical practice” This article reviews how SALT scores are used in clinical trials for alopecia areata and provides patient images to help clinicians understand and apply these scores in practice; it reports no new clinical results.
January 2024 in “ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering” In this study, researchers developed a microfluidics-based method to generate hair follicle germs on a large scale for potential hair regeneration therapies, demonstrating efficient hair follicle regeneration following transplantation into mice.
January 2024 in “Regenerative Biomaterials” In this study, researchers developed a biodegradable microneedle made of hyaluronic acid, intended to enhance drug delivery through the skin's stratum corneum and potentially promote hair growth by overcoming the skin's barrier function in alopecia treatment.
November 2023 in “International Journal of Pharmaceutics” This study reported that a novel ionic liquid delivery system combining ferulic acid and finasteride enhanced the solubility, skin permeation, and effectiveness in promoting hair regrowth in androgenetic alopecia mice, suggesting an improved topical treatment approach.
October 2023 in “Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis” In this paper, the authors detailed the role of 5-α-reductase in male androgenetic alopecia and discussed potential inhibitors like saw palmetto extracts, suggesting further investigation into their effects on hair follicles and associated biological processes.
4 citations
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July 2023 in “Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces” This study explores novel alopecia treatments targeting lactate dehydrogenase pathways and improving drug delivery through technologies like phototherapy and soluble microneedles, though practical application challenges remain, necessitating further research for clinical use.
May 2023 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” This review examines the efficacy of various novel treatments for androgenetic alopecia, including oral minoxidil and platelet-rich plasma, suggesting potential benefits but emphasizing the need for further high-quality clinical trials to thoroughly evaluate their effectiveness.
May 2023 in “Journal of Drugs in Dermatology” This study reported that the novel topical serum REVIVV®, containing a blend of phytochemicals, significantly improved hair growth and reduced shedding in 150 participants with androgenetic alopecia after 8 weeks of use, while also being rated easy to use and prompting plans for continued use.
February 2023 in “Journal of Advanced Research” This study found that platelet-rich plasma microneedles promoted hair regrowth in mice by facilitating angiogenesis and cell proliferation, showing promise for a minimally invasive hair regeneration treatment.
104 citations
,
January 2023 in “Journal of Clinical Medicine” This review evaluates the hair cycle's phases and the factors influencing the transition between anagen and telogen, advocating for a holistic approach to addressing hair loss, though no specific results are reported.
3 citations
,
January 2023 in “Agronomy” This research reported that KDML105 bran extract demonstrated antioxidant activities, reduced nitric oxide production, and influenced gene expression related to the hair cycle in cultured dermal papilla cells, suggesting potential as an anti-hair loss agent by supporting the anagen phase and angiogenesis.
January 2023 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology” This study found that microneedling-induced microinjury in mice promoted hair growth by stimulating the TNF-α/Wnt/VEGF pathway, and blocking TNF-α inhibited this process.
January 2023 in “Skin appendage disorders” This review discusses the scalp microinfusion MMP® technique for hair loss treatment and reports no new results; it emphasizes the need for more standardized studies.
January 2023 in “Theranostics” This study reported that a curcumin-zinc microneedle patch improved hair regrowth and wound healing in animal models, suggesting potential as a versatile treatment for hair loss.
1 citations
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December 2022 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” In this study, TrichoScan characteristics, particularly hair density and terminal hair percentage in the midscalp, were found to predictively classify female pattern hair loss in a Chinese population.
This review discusses the role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in hair follicle development and how natural products that activate this signaling could be used to treat hair loss, but it reports no new experimental results.
13 citations
,
July 2022 in “Frontiers in cell and developmental biology” This review discusses the potential of cell-derived nanovesicles as innovative treatment strategies for hair growth and provides no new clinical results; the authors emphasize the need for further understanding of their mechanisms.
9 citations
,
June 2022 in “Plants” This study found that shallot extract may promote hair growth in androgenetic alopecia by reducing inflammation and modulating gene expression related to key hair growth pathways.
4 citations
,
May 2022 in “Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” This study found that a melatonin-loaded microemulsion exhibited controlled release and significant stratum corneum deposition in ex vivo permeation tests, suggesting its potential for further evaluation in treating androgenic alopecia.
12 citations
,
February 2022 in “Acta Biomaterialia” In this study, researchers found that dissolving microneedles made with hyaluronic acid enhanced the effectiveness of minoxidil in reducing hair loss and promoting hair growth in alopecia-affected mice more effectively than topical minoxidil alone, while using only 10% of the drug amount.
7 citations
,
January 2022 in “Plants” This study found that extracts from the rice variety Bue Bang 3 CMU, particularly the husk and bran, demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-androgenic properties, suggesting potential use in treating androgenetic alopecia.
11 citations
,
October 2021 in “Carbohydrate Polymers” In this study, WGBP-A2 polysaccharides from Ginkgo biloba leaves promoted hair growth and altered inflammation markers in alopecia areata mice, suggesting potential therapeutic effects through modulation of inflammation pathways.
September 2021 in “IP Indian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” In this study, Diabliss Hair Water was found to improve hair growth rate, density, and quality while reducing hair fall in healthy adults experiencing hair thinning concerns.
290 citations
,
August 2021 in “Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology” JAK inhibitors show promise for treating alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
2 citations
,
August 2021 in “Journal of pharmaceutical research international” This study concluded that fenugreek seed extract loaded solid lipid nanoparticles demonstrated enhanced skin retention and extended release, suggesting potential as a future alternative treatment for alopecia.
11 citations
,
May 2021 in “Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research” This review summarizes the phytomedicinal importance of Eclipta alba in Ayurvedic and folk medicine, particularly its use for hair growth and various biological properties, without reporting new clinical results.
28 citations
,
April 2021 in “Biomedicines” This review evaluates in vitro hair follicle models, techniques, and challenges without reporting new clinical results, emphasizing their future potential in hair transplantation.
3 citations
,
January 2021 in “Journal of dermatology & cosmetology” This review explores different types of alopecia, the effects on hair appearance and growth, and the conventional treatments available, including minoxidil and finasteride, along with their side effects and the need for future drug development and potential therapies.
4 citations
,
May 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy” In this study, a topical lotion containing Redensyl and Sepicontrol A5 demonstrated effectiveness for treating androgenetic alopecia over 24 weeks, with 73.1% of users seeing moderate improvement and notable increases in hair cycle ratios, alongside enhanced quality of life and satisfaction.
8 citations
,
April 2020 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” This review assessed experimental studies on herbs used for alopecia, identifying potential mechanisms involving hair cycle management and keratinocyte processes, but highlighted a need for improved evidence on quality control and toxicity of these herbal treatments.
86 citations
,
January 2020 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study developed the Alopecia Areata Investigator Global Assessment (AA-IGA) to measure scalp-hair loss in alopecia areata patients, incorporating perspectives of both patients and clinicians to define treatment success.
8 citations
,
January 2020 in “Skin appendage disorders” This review found that supplements containing saw palmetto may improve hair quality and density in patients with androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium, but more large-scale RCTs are needed for conclusive evidence.
11 citations
,
December 2019 in “Dermatologic Therapy” This systematic review suggests that topical ketoconazole may improve hair regrowth and thickness in both animal and human studies for androgenetic alopecia, but further randomized controlled trials are needed.
15 citations
,
November 2019 in “Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology” This study investigated a liposomal hydrogel system for delivering minoxidil and tretinoin to treat androgenic alopecia, finding that the system enhanced skin permeation of minoxidil while retaining tretinoin on the skin and was non-irritating in animal tests, suggesting its potential effectiveness.
33 citations
,
November 2019 in “Journal of Controlled Release” In this study, researchers developed a new self-administered finasteride delivery system using powder-carrying microneedles that improved hair growth efficacy and addressed safety concerns compared to topical finasteride gel by allowing sustained intradermal release of the drug for three days with a single application.
24 citations
,
October 2019 in “Biomaterials Research” This study investigated the use of Minoxidil encapsulated in HA-PLGA nanoparticles for alopecia treatment and found that these nanoparticles efficiently delivered the drug to hair follicle cells without significant cytotoxicity, offering a potential transdermal delivery method for various diseases.
June 2019 in “Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics” This review highlights the use of finasteride, a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and male pattern hair loss, noting that it may cause male sexual dysfunction but usually with tolerable side effects that decrease over time, not requiring treatment discontinuation.
8 citations
,
April 2019 in “Dermatologic Therapy” This study found that applying topical tretinoin can influence follicular sulfotransferase expression, enabling 43% of predicted nonresponders to minoxidil to respond positively in the context of androgenetic alopecia.
32 citations
,
January 2019 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” This review discusses the use of topical minoxidil for various types of alopecia and reports mixed evidence on its efficacy, with stronger support noted for conditions like eyebrow hypotrichosis and chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
1 citations
,
January 2019 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” 
148 citations
,
December 2018 in “Journal of autoimmunity” This review discusses genetic and environmental factors contributing to autoimmunity in alopecia areata and reports no new clinical findings, emphasizing the need for further study on its aetiology and pathophysiology.
52 citations
,
September 2018 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” This review highlights the potential of ginseng and its metabolites in preventing hair loss, detailing their hair growth-promoting effects observed in numerous preclinical studies, and emphasizing the underlying mechanisms involved.
14 citations
,
June 2018 in “Frontiers in pharmacology” In this study, EGCG from green tea promoted mink hair follicle growth and cell proliferation at specific concentrations, potentially through activation of Shh and AKT signaling pathways.
191 citations
,
May 2018 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” This study reviewed recent theories on alopecia areata's pathogenesis, highlighting its autoimmune nature due to immune privilege disruption in hair follicles, and noted current treatments have limited efficacy with high relapse rates, underscoring the need for further research into its mechanisms for better therapies.
1 citations
,
July 2017 in “Clinical research in dermatology” This review covers the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and potential new treatments for androgenetic alopecia but reports no new clinical findings, highlighting an ongoing need for effective therapies.
153 citations
,
March 2017 in “Endocrine” This review examines recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of androgenetic alopecia, highlighting two major genetic risk loci, but does not report new clinical findings.
21 citations
,
January 2017 in “Dermatology Online Journal” This review discusses the sexual side effects of finasteride and dutasteride, two 5-α-reductase inhibitors, and reports no new clinical findings while calling for further research into dosage differences.
136 citations
,
May 2016 in “Phytotherapy Research” This systematic review suggests that turmeric and curcumin products, both oral and topical, may offer therapeutic benefits for various skin conditions, though further research is necessary to evaluate efficacy more thoroughly.
2 citations
,
April 2016 in “Más dermatología” This study found that the dietary supplement RJ-SP4AGA significantly improved hair growth and reduced hair loss in post-menopausal women with androgenetic alopecia over 16 weeks.
17 citations
,
December 2015 in “BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine” This study found that Avicennia marina extract significantly inhibited 5α-reductase type 1 activity in human hair dermal papilla cells, suggesting its potential use for treating androgenic alopecia.
25 citations
,
July 2015 in “Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces” This study found that microencapsulation combined with iontophoresis can significantly enhance the delivery of minoxidil sulphate to hair follicles, suggesting a synergetic approach for topical drug targeting.
30 citations
,
December 2014 in “Toxicological Research” This study found that 3% peppermint oil significantly enhanced hair growth in C57BL/6 mice, showing increased dermal thickness, follicle number, and follicle depth compared to other treatments.
18 citations
,
March 2014 in “Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy” This study evaluated new aqueous gel formulations of minoxidil without irritants and found that the calcium alginate gel showed the best performance in terms of drug release and skin permeation.
35 citations
,
January 2014 in “Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii” This study found that increased dihydrotestosterone levels were observed in both androgenetic alopecia patients and controls, suggesting that follicle sensitivity to DHT may be more critical than DHT levels for alopecia development.
36 citations
,
January 2014 in “Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine” This study found that men with androgenetic alopecia treated with pumpkin seed oil for 24 weeks experienced a notable 40% increase in hair count compared to a 10% increase with a placebo.
32 citations
,
March 2013 in “Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” This study observed that iontophoresis significantly improved the delivery of minoxidil sulfate to hair follicles compared to passive methods, suggesting potential benefits for alopecia treatment.
5 citations
,
January 2013 in “Spatula DD - Peer Reviewed Journal on Complementary Medicine and Drug Discovery” This study found that a polyherbal formulation of Trigonella foenum-graecum and Butea monosperma significantly promoted hair growth and reduced DHT levels in a chemotherapy-induced alopecia model.
51 citations
,
October 2012 in “International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology” In this study, 68% of patients treated with finasteride showed improved hair growth in male androgenetic alopecia, compared to 38% with Serenoa repens, indicating finasteride's superior efficacy.
29 citations
,
November 2011 in “Cell stress & chaperones” This study demonstrated that quercetin effectively treated alopecia areata and prevented its onset in a mouse model, suggesting potential for clinical applications in managing the condition.
51 citations
,
May 2011 in “Phytotherapy Research” This study suggests that red ginseng rhizome extracts, particularly ginsenoside Ro, may promote hair re-growth in an androgenetic alopecia model due to their inhibitory activity on testosterone 5α-reductase.
25 citations
,
January 2011 in “Pharmacognosy magazine” This study found that Nardostachys jatamansi DC rhizome extracts and specific isolated terpenoids promoted hair growth.
152 citations
,
October 2010 in “Archives of Dermatology” This study found that daily oral finasteride may increase hair count and improve hair appearance assessments in men with androgenetic alopecia, but it also appears to raise the risk of sexual dysfunction.
42 citations
,
March 2010 in “Endocrinology” This study reports the development of the first rodent model for androgenetic alopecia, demonstrating that overexpression of androgen receptors in mice delays hair regeneration and can be used to test new treatments.
121 citations
,
May 2009 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” This study found that the methanol extract of Eclipta alba showed dose-dependent hair growth promoting activity in pigmented C57/BL6 mice by influencing the transition from the telogen to anagen phase.
25 citations
,
December 2008 in “Journal of Dermatological Case Reports” In this study, R-CSLM showed promise in evaluating hair shaft diseases by providing high-quality images of hair structures, although further development is necessary for follicle and perifollicular area analysis.
63 citations
,
August 2008 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” The researchers reported that the petroleum ether extract of Cuscuta reflexa may promote hair growth in testosterone-induced alopecia in mice by inhibiting the enzyme 5α-reductase.
114 citations
,
January 2007 in “International Journal of Dermatology” This study found that caffeine can stimulate hair growth in vitro and counteract testosterone-induced growth suppression in hair follicles from male AGA patients.
61 citations
,
January 2007 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology” This study found that garlic gel significantly improved the efficacy of topical betamethasone valerate in treating alopecia areata compared to placebo.
85 citations
,
January 2007 in “Journal of Drug Targeting” This study found that liposomal formulations improved minoxidil delivery to skin layers compared to niosomes and a control solution, suggesting enhanced potential for topical hair loss treatment.
95 citations
,
June 2002 in “The Journal of Dermatology” In this study, using topical crude onion juice significantly improved hair regrowth in patients with patchy alopecia areata compared to tap water.
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.
25 citations
,
January 2002 in “Folia Pharmacologica Japonica” This article reviews the proposed mechanism of minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia, suggesting it may prolong the anagen phase by modulating cell growth factors and vascular activity, but reports no new results.
59 citations
,
January 2001 in “Dermatology” This article discusses the role of dermatologists in advising patients on hair cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, highlighting the development of cosmeceuticals and the need for accurate information on health hazards associated with hair care products, but reports no new results.
370 citations
,
September 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” This article discusses the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata with finasteride and minoxidil but reports no new clinical results.
