21 citations
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June 2017 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” This study found that topical cetirizine 1% significantly improved hair density and diameter in patients with androgenetic alopecia, with patients tolerating the treatment well.
20 citations
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August 2023 in “Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal” This study found that cetirizine-loaded niosomal gels demonstrated superior skin deposition and retention compared to plain cetirizine gel, suggesting potential for improved topical management of alopecia.
9 citations
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September 2010 in “Dermatologic therapy” This study found that combined therapy with cetirizine and topical steroids stabilized inflammation in most patients with lichen planus pilaris, though one patient experienced cardiac arrhythmia.
7 citations
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April 2021 in “Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences” This study found that while both cetirizine 1% and minoxidil 5% increased hair density in men with androgenetic alopecia, minoxidil showed a significantly higher improvement, and both treatments lost effectiveness after 8 weeks without use; cetirizine was well-tolerated with no significant adverse reactions.
5 citations
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January 2021 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” This study found that topical cetirizine treatment significantly improved hair regrowth and patient satisfaction in male patients with androgenetic alopecia compared to a placebo, highlighting its potential role in treatment.
4 citations
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August 2016 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” This case report observed that after 6 months of treatment with topical cetirizine and oral vitamin D, hair density and quality improved in three girls with congenital hypotrichosis due to ectodermal dysplasia.
2 citations
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August 2017 in “Dermatologic Therapy” This letter to the editor discusses the use of topical cetirizine 1% for treating androgenetic alopecia but reports no new clinical outcomes.
August 2026 in “Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” In rats with cyclophosphamide-induced hair loss, this study found that applying cetirizine HCl-loaded emulgel with microneedling stimulated hair growth, suggesting a potentially safer alternative to minoxidil for treating chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
August 2026 in “Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice” In this single-blind clinical trial, adding 1% topical cetirizine to 5% topical minoxidil for 16 weeks did not show improved hair growth outcomes in patients with androgenetic alopecia compared to minoxidil alone, although patient satisfaction was higher with the addition of cetirizine.
In this study, incorporating cetirizine into transferosome formulations significantly enhanced hair growth in mice and boosted IGF-1 and VEGF levels, suggesting that this method could be a promising alternative to traditional hair growth treatments, though further studies are needed to confirm its safety and suitability.
December 2025 in “Skin Appendage Disorders” This study found that applying a 1% cetirizine solution daily for 16 weeks resulted in a statistically significant increase in hair count among men with androgenetic alopecia, although improvements in global photographs were less pronounced, highlighting the need for larger studies to confirm these findings.
October 2025 in “Pharmaceutical Development and Technology” In this study, cetirizine hydrochloride was formulated into niosomal and cubosomal gels, showing potential for off-label use in treating androgenic alopecia due to effective skin permeation and acceptable safety profiles; cubosomal gels exhibited superior permeation compared to niosomal gels.
October 2025 in “Archives of Clinical Toxicology” This commentary highlights that cetirizine, a widely-used antihistamine, remains effective for various emerging allergic conditions, and new formulations and combination therapies may enhance its effectiveness while being generally well-tolerated.
April 2025 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” In this study, microneedling-administered topical cetirizine was observed to significantly enhance hair density and increase vellus hair prevalence in men with androgenetic alopecia, with no notable adverse effects reported.
January 2025 in “Organics” This study found that differently charged micelles influence the acid-base equilibria of cetirizine by altering its ionization constants, indicating potential interactions with biomolecules of various charges under physiological conditions.
January 2025 in “Mansoura Medical Journal” This study found that topical minoxidil 5% was more effective than cetirizine 1% in improving hair parameters in male androgenetic alopecia, though cetirizine showed promising safety and some efficacy.
In this study, researchers assessed the physical-chemical and microbiological stability of various pharmaceutical ingredients in the vehicle TrichoSolTM, finding differing beyond-use dates for the compounds, such as 180 days for cetirizine hydrochloride, but only 90 days for progesterone at higher concentrations.
September 2024 in “Revista Científica de Salud BIOSANA” This systematic review explored the potential of cetirizine, an anti-inflammatory antihistamine, as a complementary treatment for androgenetic alopecia, reporting that it might help prevent hair follicle miniaturization by reducing inflammation and modulating immune activity, without notable side effects.
June 2024 in “Majallah-i dānishgāh-i ̒ulum-i pizishkī-i Kirmān.” This study evaluated enhancers to improve skin absorption of topical cetirizine for androgenic alopecia treatment and found eucalyptus and Tween 80 most effective, while propylene glycol had the weakest effect.
October 2023 in “Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology” Custom software found that common allergy drugs might have new uses for various conditions and could improve survival in some cancers.
September 2023 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” In a pilot study examining potential treatments for androgenic alopecia, researchers reported that over four months, topical cetirizine 1% improved hair length but not other measures, while diclofenac 3% showed no significant effects, unlike minoxidil, which showed significant improvement across all measured variables.
August 2023 in “Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology” This study found that while both topical cetirizine and minoxidil improved female pattern hair loss, minoxidil was significantly more effective in increasing hair density.
July 2023 in “Research Square (Research Square)” In this study, the application of topical cetirizine 1% once daily for four months in Egyptian male patients with androgenetic alopecia led to a significant increase in terminal hairs and improved hair diversity, with promising safety and efficacy outcomes.
December 2022 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” This study found that topical cetirizine increased hair shaft thickness and improved clinical outcomes from the patients' perspective in female androgenetic alopecia compared to minoxidil alone, with similar side effect profiles.
August 2022 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” This study found that 1% topical cetirizine may be more effective than a placebo in treating androgenetic alopecia but appears less effective than minoxidil for hair density, though potentially longer-lasting; however, more well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.
August 2020 in “International Journal of Medical Arts (Print)” This study found that topical cetirizine 1% may be effective in treating androgenetic alopecia in men, with some patients experiencing new hair growth compared to none in the placebo group.
March 2020 in “Case medical research” This website listing states that casemedicalresearch.com is available for purchase and aims to offer comprehensive information on various topics, highlighting it as a potential resource.
December 2021 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature”
32 citations
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January 2012 in “International Journal of Dermatology” This study reported that the most common skin side effect of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors was a papulopustular rash, treatable with symptom-targeted therapies, while drug suspension was rarely needed.
7 citations
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April 2021 in “Dermatology and Therapy” This review identifies several off-label uses of H-1 antihistamines in dermatology beyond itch and urticaria control, though the evidence is weak and further trials are needed.