January 2025 in “Advances in Dermatology and Allergology” In this prospective study of 135 women with hirsutism, researchers reported that treatment approaches varied, with oral contraceptives, dexamethasone, and metformin widely used, and emphasized a holistic approach including lifestyle changes and mental health support to effectively manage the condition.
48 citations
,
January 2011 in “International journal of trichology” This study found that intralesional triamcinolone acetonide was most effective for hair regrowth in localized alopecia areata, with betamethasone valerate foam also being beneficial, while tacrolimus ointment showed no significant effect.
3 citations
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September 2022 in “Archives of dermatological research” In this study, fractional CO2 laser treatment for alopecia areata was found to significantly increase terminal hair and patient satisfaction compared to betamethasone valerate cream alone, highlighting its efficacy and safety both as a standalone and combined treatment.
July 2025 in “The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine” This study found that intralesional methotrexate and triamcinolone acetonide have similar efficacy for localized alopecia areata in adults, but differ in safety profiles, with methotrexate associated with hyperpigmentation and triamcinolone with atrophy.
38 citations
,
August 2015 in “Drug Design Development and Therapy” This study observed that topical flutamide may be as effective as hydroquinone for treating melasma, with a trend towards greater improvement and patient satisfaction, but recommends further research before clinical use.
May 2008 in “10th European Congress of Endocrinology” Flutamide alone is as effective as the combination with finasteride for treating hirsutism.
40 citations
,
March 2003 in “The journal of small animal practice/Journal of small animal practice” In this case study, medical management with trilostane improved clinical signs and normalized serum chemistry in a dog diagnosed with adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism over 80 weeks of treatment.
May 2015 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Both azathioprine and betamethasone treatments help with hair regrowth in alopecia areata, but azathioprine may have fewer side effects.
June 2026 in “Indian Dermatology Online Journal” In this pilot study, both tofacitinib and methotrexate improved alopecia areata outcomes, but tofacitinib showed greater efficacy in achieving significant SALT score improvement after 6 months, although the difference was not statistically significant.
April 2024 in “Clinical and experimental dermatology” This retrospective study evaluated the use of tofacitinib as an induction therapy for severe alopecia areata and found it promising and comparable to the standard oral mini-pulse treatment, though pulse steroids may be considered if tofacitinib response is inadequate.
7 citations
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August 1985 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” This study found that subcutaneous injection of medroxyprogesterone acetate was more effective than intramuscular or topical treatments in reducing hair diameter for hirsute females.
January 2024 in “Al-Azhar International Medical Journal /Al-Azhar International Medical Journal” This study concluded that topical betamethasone valerate lotion is more effective than 15% lactic acid solution for managing multiple patchy alopecia areata over a 12-week period in a sample of 50 patients.
October 2025 in “Iraqi postgraduate medical journal” This study observed that using fractional CO2 laser-assisted delivery of clobetasol propionate cream significantly improved treatment outcomes for localized alopecia areata compared to the cream alone, suggesting the laser's enhancing effect on hair regrowth.
3 citations
,
June 2020 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” In this study, researchers found that triamcinolone acetonide provided earlier visual improvement in alopecia areata treatment, but by 12 weeks, both triamcinolone acetonide and betamethasone 1.75 mg/ml showed similar effectiveness compared to lower-dose betamethasone and placebo.
18 citations
,
August 1985 in “European journal of endocrinology” This study found that high-dose cyproterone acetate was effective for treating hirsutism, but 33% of patients felt their condition worsened on low-dose maintenance therapy, despite no significant change in objective measures of hair growth.
149 citations
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June 2002 in “Veterinary record/The veterinary record” This study found that trilostane was effective in resolving symptoms such as polyuria and polydipsia in many dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism, with significant hormone level reductions observed.
February 2017 in “Medicina cutánea ibero-latino-americana” This case report documents an 8-year-old boy with alopecia areata presenting as symmetric alopecic patches with a triangular and targetoid pattern on the scalp, successfully treated with clobetasol propionate foam.
June 2006 in “Almustansiriya journal of pharmaceutical sciences/Al-Mustansiriyah journal of pharmaceutical sciences” This study found that melatonin may reduce the dose of prednisone needed for treating alopecia areata and its associated side effects by attenuating free radical damage on the immune system.
36 citations
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June 2003 in “The journal of small animal practice/Journal of small animal practice” This case report describes a domestic shorthaired cat with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism treated with trilostane, which improved clinical signs, but the cat later succumbed to renal failure due to a fungal urinary tract infection.
15 citations
,
May 2017 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” In this study, patients with alopecia areata experienced significant hair regrowth using topical latanoprost, minoxidil, or betamethasone valerate, with the addition of latanoprost enhancing the effectiveness of betamethasone valerate, showcasing these treatments as safe and effective options.
39 citations
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January 2012 in “Dermatology” In this study, the combination of pulse intravenous corticosteroids and methotrexate was associated with positive hair regrowth in severe alopecia areata patients, with half achieving total regrowth.
46 citations
,
January 2000 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”
16 citations
,
April 2014 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy” This review discusses the pharmacological profile of teriflunomide for treating relapsing multiple sclerosis, highlighting its safety and effectiveness in reducing relapses and slowing disability progression, though direct comparisons with other oral medications are lacking.
20 citations
,
June 2003 in “Neurology” This case report describes improvement in amenorrhea, alopecia, and muscle spasms in a 13-year-old girl with Satoyoshi syndrome following treatment with daily tacrolimus and alternate-day oral prednisolone.
27 citations
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October 1991 in “International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics” This study observed that flutamide treatment reduced hair growth and improved acne and seborrhea in hirsute women, with increased androstenedione levels and no side effects noted.
2 citations
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October 2021 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” In this randomized trial, the researchers observed that both montelukast and finasteride effectively reduced acne severity and lesion count in women with moderate acne, but finasteride showed greater efficacy. Both medications had transient, non-serious side effects, indicating satisfactory tolerability and safety.
May 2015 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Both treatments help with hair regrowth in alopecia areata, but azathioprine has milder side effects than betamethasone.
42 citations
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December 1976 in “PubMed” This study found that the combination of cyproterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol improved hirsutism and acne in women, with SH 8.1041 showing significant results and both treatments being generally well-tolerated.
5 citations
,
April 2015 in “HSOA journal of clinical dermatology & therapy” This article reviews alopecia areata treatments, noting varied outcomes, and reports no new clinical results.