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Treatments for androgenetic alopecia varies in effectiveness between men, women

Men and women benefited from minoxidil therapy for androgenetic alopecia, while finasteride and low-level light therapy also showed efficacy in treating men with the condition, according to meta-analysis results recently published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Researchers conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials by searching PubMed, Embase and Cochrane from their earliest dates through December 2016. Randomized controlled trials on the effects of nonsurgical treatments on patients with androgenetic alopecia were included, and the studies had to be good or fair quality based on the U.S. Preventive Task Force quality assessment process.

There were 214 articles screened, and 45 articles were reviewed by two authors.

Twenty-three articles were included in the analysis, including one article that had two intervention arms: minoxidil 5% and minoxidil 2%.

Although most studies were conducted on men, the researchers found sufficient data to measure 2% minoxidil solution twice daily for women.

A separate meta-analysis was conducted for five groups of studies that tested hair-loss treatments including laser treatment in men, 5% minoxidil in men, 2% minoxidil in men, 1 mg finasteride in men and 2% minoxidil in women. The researchers found that all the treatments were superior to placebo (P < .00001).

Although there were four articles on dutasteride, only two had required outcome data to use in the meta-analysis.

“This meta-analysis strongly suggests that minoxidil, finasteride and low-level laser light therapy are effective for promoting hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia and that minoxidil is effective for women with androgenetic alopecia,” the researchers concluded.  – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.