Displaying items by tag: female pattern baldness

REPORT: Efficacy of Treatments Compared for Female Pattern Hair Loss

As of July 2015, there have been no less than 47 reported studies on several popular topical treatments for female pattern hair loss (FPHL) that included approximately 5300 women ranging in age from 27 to 57. Within these studies, there were 3 small sub-studies on a topical treatment used for male hair loss. No age was provided on the ages of the 231 male participants. Twenty-one of the studies were viewed as bias-free, meaning that there were no outside influences, and 26 studies were financed by pharmaceutical firms which were viewed as having a moderate risk of being biased.

Each participant provided information about family history of hair loss. Additional pre-study information was collected on whether a person was pre or post-menopausal, how the impact of thinning hair affected their self-confidence, discomfort, emotional stress, and quality of life. In those cases where hair regrowth or improved density was noticed, the participants reported an improvement in their self-confidence and quality of life.

CATEGORIES OF STUDIES:

Minoxidil Compared to a Placebo:
In these studies twice as many women experienced moderate regrowth with the minoxidil than with the placebo. The mild side effects described by both group participants were: dermatitis, skin irritation, and itching scalp.

Minoxidil 2% Compared to Minoxidil 5%:
The results of these studies indicated that while there was an increase in hair regrowth, there were no significant benefits gained from the group using the higher concentration of minoxidil from the group using the lower concentration. The same mild side effects of dermatitis, skin irritation and itching scalp were reported by both female groups.

Finasteride Compared to a Placebo:
Three studies on the use of the male topical treatment, finasteride, compared to a placebo showed the same level of improvement. The mild side effects identified by both groups were the same, but the studies did not describe those comments.

Laser Comb Therapy Compared to Sham Therapy:
The results of these two studies revealed that both groups saw a healthy increase in hair regrowth. There were no side effects reported by either group.

FPHL is the most common hair problem for women, occurring most often at the front and over the top of the head. Topical hair treatments are similar to other health care routines; people must continue their routines in order to retain the benefits. Minoxidil is not recommended for lactating or pregnant women.

Hair Loss Side Effect

Did you know that many commonly prescribed prescription drugs can cause temporary hair loss or  trigger the onset of male and female pattern baldness, and even cause permanent hair loss. Be sure to investigate the side effects of all your medications for hair loss. The drugs below are listed by category, according to the conditions they treat, then by brand name first followed by the drug’s generic name in parentheses. In some categories, individual drugs are not listed. For these conditions, you will want to discuss the possibility of hair loss as a side effect of using any of the drugs that treat that particular condition, since many do contribute to hair loss. 

Note that the drugs listed here do not include those used in chemotherapy and radiation for cancer treatment:

Acne

All drugs derived from vitamin A as treatments for acne or other conditions, including:

• Accutane (isotretinoin)

Blood

Anticoagulants (blood thinners), including:

• Panwarfin (warfarin sodium)
• Sofarin (warfarin sodium)
• Coumadin (warfarin sodium)
• Heparin injections

Cholesterol

Cholesterol-lowering drugs, including:

• Atronid-S (clofibrate)
• Lopid (gemfibrozil)

Convulsions/ Epilepsy

• Anticonvulsants, including:
• Tridone (trimethadione)

Depression

• Antidepression drugs, including:
• Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride)
• Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride)
• Paxil (paroxetine)
• Anafranil (clomipramine)
• Janimine (imipramine)
• Tofranil (imipramine)
• Tofranil PM (imipramine)
• Adapin (doxepin)
• Sinequan (doxepin)
• Surmontil (trimipramine)
• Pamelor (nortriptyline)
• Ventyl (nortriptyline)
• Elavin (amitriptyline)
• Endep (amitriptyline)
• Norpramin (desipramine)
• Pertofrane (desipramine)
• Vivactil (protriptyline hydrochloride)
• Asendin (amoxapine)
• Haldol ( haloperidol)

Diet

• Amphetamines

Fungus

• Antifungals

Glaucoma

• The beta-blocker drugs, including:
• Timoptic Eye Drops (timolol)
• Timoptic Ocudose (timolol)
• Timoptic XC (timolol)

Gout

• Lopurin (allopurinol)
• Zyloprim (allopurinol)

Heart

Many drugs prescribed for the heart, including those known as the beta blockers, which are also used to treat high blood pressure, and include:

• Tenormin (atenolol)
• Lopressor (metoprolol)
• Corgard (nadolol)
• Inderal and Inderal LA (propanolol)
• Blocadren (timolol)
• High Blood Pressure
• See Above list of beta blockers under "Heart"

Hormonal Conditions

All hormone-containing drugs and drugs prescribed for hormone-related, reproductive, male-specific, and female-specific conditions and situations have the potential to cause hair loss, including:

• Birth Control Pills
• Hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) for women (estrogen or progesterone)
• Male androgenic hormones and all forms of testosterone
• Anabolic steriods
• Prednisone and other steroids

Inflammation

• Many anti-inflammatory drugs, including those prescribed for localized pain, swelling and injury.
• Arthritis drugs
• Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs including:
  - Naprosyn (naproxen)
  - Anaprox (naproxen)
  - Anaprox DS (naproxen)
  - Indocin (indomethacin)
  - Indocin SR (indomethacin)
  - Clinoril (sulindac)

An anti-inflammatory that is also used as a chemotherapy drug:

• Methotrexate (MTX)
• Rheumatex (methotrexate)
• Folex (methotrexate)

Parkinson's Disease

• Levadopa / L-dopa (dopar, larodopa)

Thyroid Disorders

• Many of the drugs used to treat the thyroid

Ulcer

• Many of the drugs used to treat indigestion, stomach difficulties, and ulcers, including over-the-counter dosages and prescription dosages.
• Tagamet (cimetidine)
• Zantac (ranitidine)
• Pepcid (famotidine)

SOURCE: AMERICAN HAIR LOSS ASSOCIATION