Treating female-pattern hair loss

A study may have uncovered the most effective treatment options in patients with female-pattern hair loss.

In the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, investigators assessed the data from randomized clinical trials, observational studies and case reports.

Oral minoxidil at 1 milligram per day demonstrated comparable efficacy to 5% topical minoxidil. Both twice daily 2% and once daily 5% topical minoxidil improved hair density, but adverse effects such as transient shedding, scalp irritation and facial hypertrichosis were observed. Further, procedures like microneedling, platelet-rich plasma injections, low-level light therapy and nonablative fractional laser therapy showed potential in small and uncontrolled studies. Finasteride at or below 1 milligram per day was not found to be effective compared with placebo.

The findings suggested that the oral and topical minoxidil formulations could offer the greatest benefit in this patient population.

Read more: The New England Journal of Medicine

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