85 citations,
June 2008 in “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences” PCOS starts in adolescence with hormonal issues, leading to adult health problems, and early treatment is crucial.
82 citations,
January 2000 in “Hormone Research in Paediatrics” DHEA stimulates skin oil glands and could help postmenopausal women, with potential for acne and excessive hair growth treatments.
75 citations,
November 2007 in “Clinical endocrinology” Certain medications including flutamide, spironolactone, and others effectively reduce excessive hair growth in women, especially when combined with lifestyle changes.
75 citations,
March 1999 in “Fertility and sterility” Finasteride, CPA, and flutamide are all equally effective in reducing excessive hair growth in women.
67 citations,
February 2010 in “Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica” Hirsutism is a strong sign of high male hormones and metabolic problems in women with PCOS, but acne and hair loss are not.
63 citations,
March 2001 in “Fertility and Sterility” Diane 35 plus finasteride is more effective for treating hirsutism.
58 citations,
October 2001 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Hair loss can indicate underlying systemic diseases and addressing these can sometimes reverse the hair loss.
51 citations,
October 2002 in “European journal of endocrinology” Low-dose finasteride effectively treats hirsutism, is safe, and cost-effective.
50 citations,
August 2017 in “Diabetologia” Metformin has limited effectiveness for improving PCOS symptoms and lacks clear benefits, needing more research to confirm its efficacy.
50 citations,
May 2000 in “Fertility and Sterility” Flutamide reduces hair growth better but has more side effects.
50 citations,
July 1996 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride effectively treats hirsutism in women, but more research needed for long-term results.
50 citations,
August 1985 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry/Journal of Steroid Biochemistry” Spironolactone reduces the enzyme activity that converts testosterone to DHT, helping treat excessive hair growth in women.
47 citations,
October 2016 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology” Androgens prevent hair growth by changing Wnt signals in cells.
47 citations,
August 2016 in “Fitoterapia” Some herbs and their components might help treat hair loss by affecting various biological pathways, but more research and regulation are needed.
43 citations,
October 2019 in “Pediatric Research” Lifestyle changes are the main treatment for PCOS, which is a complex condition requiring early management to reduce its health impacts.
42 citations,
May 2003 in “Mini-reviews in Medicinal Chemistry” New steroidal compounds could be effective for treating conditions related to 5α-reductase enzyme activity.
41 citations,
January 2020 in “Journal of Ovarian Research” Quercetin may help with PCOS symptoms, but more research is needed.
41 citations,
September 2014 in “Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology” Melatonin may help treat PCOS symptoms in rats.
40 citations,
March 2016 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Young girls whose mothers have PCOS may have higher activity of a specific enzyme that could lead to developing PCOS later.
40 citations,
April 2008 in “European journal of endocrinology” Metformin and rosiglitazone both improved insulin use and hormonal symptoms in women with PCOS.
40 citations,
January 2003 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride effectively reduces hair growth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hirsutism.
39 citations,
May 2011 in “European Journal of Clinical Investigation” Hirsutism can be caused by various conditions besides PCOS, and it's important to treat the underlying issue and manage symptoms with medication and cosmetic approaches.
38 citations,
January 1997 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride and flutamide effectively reduce hirsutism in PCOS women, with flutamide also lowering hormone levels.
35 citations,
January 2011 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Metformin should be used for PCOS mainly in those with glucose intolerance, and has limited benefits for infertility or hirsutism.
34 citations,
February 1993 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology/The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology” Certain 4-azasteroids are effective at blocking the enzyme that processes testosterone in human skin and could help treat acne, excessive hair growth, and male pattern baldness.
33 citations,
October 1994 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride reduces hair growth and is safe for women with excessive hair.
32 citations,
September 2018 in “Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology” Hormone therapy for transgender females increases the risk of blood clots and requires careful dosing, monitoring, and lifelong management.
31 citations,
June 2015 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Hormonal treatments are effective as a second-line option for moderate-to-severe acne in females, but should be used with caution due to health risks.
31 citations,
May 2012 in “European Journal of Dermatology” Menopause affects hair and skin; more research needed for treatment.
31 citations,
May 2008 in “Drug Discovery Today: Disease Mechanisms” Different hair growth problems are caused by genetic issues or changes in hair growth cycles, and new treatments are being developed.