Treatment of Male Pattern Baldness with Botulinum Toxin: A Pilot Study
November 2010
in “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery”
TLDR Botox increased hair count in men with baldness and might work by improving scalp blood flow.
In the 2010 pilot study, 50 men with male pattern baldness were treated with botulinum toxin type A (Botox) to assess its effectiveness in treating androgenetic alopecia. The participants, aged 19 to 57 and with Norwood/Hamilton ratings of II to IV, underwent two 24-week treatment cycles with a 12-week run-in period. They received 150 units of Botox across 30 scalp sites. After 60 weeks, 40 subjects completed the study without any adverse effects. The primary outcome showed a significant increase in hair count by 18% at week 48, with a 75% treatment response rate. Secondary outcomes also showed significant improvement. The results, which were statistically significant with a p-value of less than 0.0001, were comparable to those achieved with finasteride (Propecia). The study proposed that Botox might promote hair growth by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the scalp.
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