Greater Placebo Effect in Topical Than in Systemic Therapies for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by researchers from Peking University examined the placebo effect in treatments for androgenetic alopecia, comparing topical and systemic therapies. The study found that the placebo effect was significantly greater in topical treatments than in systemic ones. This suggests that patients' perceptions and expectations may play a larger role in the perceived effectiveness of topical therapies for hair loss. The analysis included a comprehensive review of existing studies, highlighting the importance of considering placebo effects when evaluating treatment efficacy for androgenetic alopecia.