Quantitative Assessment of Spironolactone Treatment in Women with Diffuse Androgen-Dependent Alopecia

January 1990

D. H. Rushton, Walter Futterweit, D. H. Kingsley, Philip J. Kingsley, Michael Norris

spironolactone androgen-dependent alopecia anagen hair telogen hair

TLDR Spironolactone improved hair density and quality in women with hair loss.

In a study from 1990, researchers investigated the effects of spironolactone on women with diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia. The study involved 12 women who were treated for 6 months with either 75 or 100 mg of spironolactone per day, while 6 women remained untreated as a control group. The results showed that the treated group experienced a significant increase in total hair density and anagen hair percentage, as well as a decrease in telogen hair percentage, compared to the control group. The study suggested that doses higher than 150 mg per day might be necessary to further improve hair quality and increase hair density. However, the researchers noted that additional long-term studies were needed to confirm these findings.

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13 / 13 results

research Biochemical and Trichological Characterization of Diffuse Alopecia in Women

124 citations , August 1990 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Diffuse alopecia in women may be related to androgens and iron deficiency, and basic hormone and nutrient screening is useful.

research Spironolactone Is an Effective and Well-Tolerated Systemic Antiandrogen Therapy for Hirsute Women

78 citations , May 1989 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism”

Spironolactone effectively reduces hair growth in women with hirsutism and is generally well-tolerated.

research Quantitative Assessment of 2% Topical Minoxidil in the Treatment of Male Pattern Baldness

31 citations , January 1989 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

The study tested a hair treatment and found it can help grow hair, but won't stop baldness. It's safe and works well, but needs more testing.

research Side Effects of Spironolactone Therapy in the Hirsute Woman

80 citations , January 1988 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism”

Spironolactone can cause side effects like irregular bleeding, but lower doses may reduce these effects and still improve hirsutism.

research Low-Dose Spironolactone in the Treatment of Female Hirsutism

12 citations , January 1987 in “PubMed”

Low-dose spironolactone is safe and effective for treating hirsutism.

research Oral Spironolactone Therapy for Female Patients with Acne, Hirsutism, or Androgenic Alopecia

101 citations , January 1985 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Spironolactone is effective for treating acne, hirsutism, and androgenic alopecia in women with few side effects.

research Effective Medical Treatment for Common Baldness in Women

43 citations , July 1984 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

Antiandrogen therapy helped increase hair growth in women with hormonal imbalances related to baldness.

research The Unit Area Trichogram in the Assessment of Androgen-Dependent Alopecia

90 citations , October 1983 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

The unit area trichogram is a reliable method to assess hair loss and treatment response in people with androgenic alopecia by measuring hair density and thickness.

research Treatment of Hirsutism With Spironolactone

183 citations , March 1982 in “JAMA”

Spironolactone is a safe and effective treatment for reducing excessive hair growth in women.

research Low Sex-Hormone Binding Globulin Levels in Young Women with Diffuse Hair Loss

40 citations , March 1982 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Young women with diffuse hair loss may have low SHBG levels, which could lead to more active testosterone and contribute to their hair loss.

research A Novel Use of Spironolactone: Treatment of Hirsutism

124 citations , September 1980 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism”

Spironolactone is effective in treating excessive hair growth in women.

research Spironolactone Therapy for Hirsutism in a Hyperandrogenic Woman

39 citations , November 1978 in “Annals of internal medicine”

Spironolactone may help reduce excessive hair growth in women with high male hormone levels.

research Classification of the Types of Androgenetic Alopecia (Common Baldness) Occurring in the Female Sex

666 citations , September 1977 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Common baldness, also known as Androgenetic Alopecia, is caused by a combination of genetic factors and hormones called androgens.

15 / 15 results

research Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss With Oral Antiandrogens

179 citations , March 2005 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Oral antiandrogens effectively treat female hair loss, with better results in higher hair loss grades.

research Treatment of Hyperandrogenic Alopecia in Women

108 citations , January 2003 in “Fertility and Sterility”

Flutamide may slightly improve hair loss in women, but finasteride does not work.

research Effects of Minoxidil 2% vs. Cyproterone Acetate Treatment on Female Androgenetic Alopecia: A Controlled, 12-Month Randomized Trial

149 citations , June 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Minoxidil works better for female hair loss, but cyproterone reduces scalp oiliness and causes menstrual issues.

research Incidence of Female Androgenetic Alopecia (Female Pattern Alopecia)

89 citations , January 2001 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

Hair loss in women is common, starts in late 20s, and affects 30% of women over 50.

research Lack of Efficacy of Finasteride in Postmenopausal Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

239 citations , November 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride doesn't effectively treat hair loss in postmenopausal women.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

581 citations , October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride safely and effectively treats male pattern hair loss, but may cause reversible sexual issues and harm male fetuses.

research Different Levels of 5α-Reductase Type I and II, Aromatase, and Androgen Receptor in Hair Follicles of Women and Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

416 citations , September 1997 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

People with hair loss have more androgen receptors and enzymes in certain follicles, with men and women showing different patterns.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in the Female

82 citations , March 1994 in “Archives of Dermatology”

2% topical minoxidil effectively treats female hair loss with minimal side effects.

research Comparison of Flutamide and Spironolactone in the Treatment of Hirsutism: A Randomized Controlled Trial

165 citations , February 1994 in “Fertility and Sterility”

Flutamide is more effective and has fewer side effects than spironolactone for treating hirsutism.

research The Importance of Adequate Serum Ferritin Levels During Oral Cyproterone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Treatment of Diffuse Androgen-Dependent Alopecia in Women

83 citations , April 1992 in “Clinical Endocrinology”

Having enough iron improves the effectiveness of a specific hair loss treatment in women.

research Patterned Androgenic Alopecia in Women

130 citations , May 1988 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

"Male-pattern" hair loss is common in women, especially after menopause, and doesn't always mean there's a problem with hormone balance.

Quantitative Assessment of Spironolactone Treatment in Women with Diffuse Androgen-Dependent Alopecia

Cited in this study

research Biochemical and Trichological Characterization of Diffuse Alopecia in Women

research Spironolactone Is an Effective and Well-Tolerated Systemic Antiandrogen Therapy for Hirsute Women

research Quantitative Assessment of 2% Topical Minoxidil in the Treatment of Male Pattern Baldness

research Side Effects of Spironolactone Therapy in the Hirsute Woman

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research Effective Medical Treatment for Common Baldness in Women

research The Unit Area Trichogram in the Assessment of Androgen-Dependent Alopecia

research Treatment of Hirsutism With Spironolactone

research Low Sex-Hormone Binding Globulin Levels in Young Women with Diffuse Hair Loss

research A Novel Use of Spironolactone: Treatment of Hirsutism

research Spironolactone Therapy for Hirsutism in a Hyperandrogenic Woman

research Classification of the Types of Androgenetic Alopecia (Common Baldness) Occurring in the Female Sex

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