Low Dosage Retinol and L-Cystine Combination Improve Alopecia of the Diffuse Type Following Long-Term Oral Administration

    August 1989 in “ PubMed ”
    H. Hertel, H Gollnick, C. Matthies, Baumann I, Orfanos Ce
    TLDR Retinol and L-cystine improve diffuse hair loss without side effects.
    In a study conducted in 1989, a combination therapy of retinol, L-cystine, and gelatin was tested for its effectiveness in treating diffuse hair loss. The pilot study involved 36 patients and showed significant improvements, including an 8.3% reduction in the telogen rate, an 11% increase in the anagen rate, and a 6.9% increase in hair density. A subsequent double-blind study with 47 patients confirmed these findings, with a 13.5% decrease in the telogen rate and an 8% improvement in the anagen rate, while the placebo group showed no improvement. The treatment also improved the percentage of dysplastic anagen hairs by 7.4%, compared to a 26% increase in the placebo group. No systemic side effects were observed, suggesting that this combination therapy could be beneficial for treating diffuse hair loss.
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