A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial of Testosterone Gel Treatment Versus Vehicle Control on the Facial Hair of Young Men with Beta-Thalassemia Major
January 2007
in “
Journal of dermatological treatment
”
TLDR Testosterone gel helps increase facial hair in young men with beta-thalassemia major.
In a study conducted in 2007, 32 young men with beta-thalassemia major were randomized to determine the efficacy of 2.5% testosterone gel in increasing facial hair growth. After 6 months, the group treated with testosterone gel showed a significant increase in the number of terminal facial hairs per cm² (29.8±13.6) compared to the control group (13.9±13.2), with a p-value of less than 0.005. Both serum testosterone levels and the number of terminal hairs were measured, and the treatment was found to be well tolerated, with only one patient from each group reporting a sense of irritation. The study concluded that the testosterone gel was effective in promoting facial hair growth in males with beta-thalassemia major.