Therapeutic Use of Caffeine in Dermatology: A Literature Review

In 2020, a literature review explored the therapeutic use of caffeine in dermatology, highlighting its antioxidant, phosphodiesterase inhibiting, and anti-carcinogenic properties. These properties were found beneficial for skin and hair health, including the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and prevention of skin cancer and rosacea. However, overuse of caffeine was found to decrease hair growth and delay wound healing. While ex vivo hair follicles treated with caffeine showed pronounced growth, the review noted a lack of clinically-based, double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies examining topical caffeine use. The largest study involved a multi-faceted approach to AGA treatment in men, but the use of multiple active drugs alongside caffeine made it difficult to isolate caffeine's efficacy. The review concluded that while caffeine has potential benefits at the cellular level, further studies are needed to confirm its dermatological implications, as current evidence was deemed insufficient.