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Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD Mar 2023Melatonin, a pleiotropic hormone, affects the physiological processes including that of the hair follicle. We seek to identify the scientific evidence to support the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Melatonin, a pleiotropic hormone, affects the physiological processes including that of the hair follicle. We seek to identify the scientific evidence to support the potential benefits of melatonin in human hair growth.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the evidence on the association between melatonin and hair health, denoted by hair growth.
METHODS
A literature review using 3 databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane) identified studies investigating the relationship between melatonin and hair loss (2022). The following search terms were used: (hair OR hair loss OR alopecia OR hair growth OR effluvium OR scalp) and (melatonin). Two independent reviewers screened studies for inclusion criteria, and data collection included demographics, melatonin intervention, study type, and effects on hair.
RESULTS
A total of 11 human studies were identified with evidence of melatonin use in subjects with diagnosed alopecia (2,267 patients; 1,140M). Eight of the studies reviewed observed positive outcomes after topical melatonin use in subjects with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Most studies report improved scalp hair growth (n=8), density (n=4), and hair shaft thickness (n=2) among melatonin users compared with controls. Effective topical melatonin dosage appears to be 0.0033% or 0.1% solution applied once-daily for 90 to 180 days vs 1.5 mg twice-daily oral melatonin supplementation for 180 days.
CONCLUSION
There is evidence to support melatonin use to facilitate scalp hair growth, particularly in men with AGA. Further studies should include more patients and investigate the mechanism of action. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(3): doi:10.36849/JDD.6921.
Topics: Male; Humans; Hair Follicle; Melatonin; Hair; Alopecia; Scalp
PubMed: 36877877
DOI: 10.36849/JDD.6921 -
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 2020Chemotherapy-induced alopecia causes an important impact on cancer patients and its risk of persistence is currently a considerable issue in cancer survivors. Of the... (Review)
Review
Chemotherapy-induced alopecia causes an important impact on cancer patients and its risk of persistence is currently a considerable issue in cancer survivors. Of the various interventions proposed for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia, scalp cooling has emerged as an effective and safe strategy. This paper aims to provide an overview on scalp cooling and chemotherapy-induced alopecia prevention.
Topics: Alopecia; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Humans; Hypothermia, Induced; Scalp
PubMed: 32622629
DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2020.03.005 -
Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North... May 2020Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising treatment for hair restoration in patients with androgenic alopecia. Created from a platelet concentrate from an autologous... (Review)
Review
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising treatment for hair restoration in patients with androgenic alopecia. Created from a platelet concentrate from an autologous blood draw, PRP is a safe therapeutic option for patients with hair loss. It is used alone or in conjunction with topical and oral therapies. Most studies of hair restoration with PRP report positive outcomes. Further research to optimize PRP preparation/administration procedures and identify patient populations that benefit most from this treatment are needed, as is long-term follow-up of objective hair loss outcomes. PRP appears to be a safe technology with excellent potential for promoting hair restoration.
Topics: Alopecia; Combined Modality Therapy; Humans; Injections; Platelet-Rich Plasma
PubMed: 32312505
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsc.2020.01.009 -
Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs Dec 2022Alopecia Areata (AA) is the second most common non-scarring hair loss disorder, with a prevalence of 1 in 1000 and a lifetime incidence of 2% worldwide. Data from a... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Alopecia Areata (AA) is the second most common non-scarring hair loss disorder, with a prevalence of 1 in 1000 and a lifetime incidence of 2% worldwide. Data from a recent American study shows that from 68,121 patients with the diagnosis of AA, 37,995 (55.8%) were prescribed treatment for AA within a year of diagnosis, however there are still no therapies able to induce permanent remission, or treatments that guarantee hair regrowth/remissions in 100% of cases, especially in longstanding/severe AA. Recently, oral baricitinib has been approved for AA, being the first drug approved for this specific indication.
AREAS COVERED
The current review will provide a summary of current pharmacological approaches and novel therapeutics in development.
EXPERT OPINION
New and very effective drugs have become available for the treatment of severe AA, and many others are expected soon. However, even new, effective treatments are not effective in all patients and recurrence rates after treatment interruption are high. AA is a systemic disease with important impact on quality of life and should not be considered just as an aesthetic problem. Treatment of the disease should take in account and possibly also address treatment of comorbidities.
Topics: Humans; Alopecia Areata; Quality of Life; Janus Kinase Inhibitors; Alopecia; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36408593
DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2022.2149735 -
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD Jul 20225-alpha inhibitors are an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia. Mesotherapy with dutasteride has been proposed as an effective method to improve hair loss and...
BACKGROUND
5-alpha inhibitors are an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia. Mesotherapy with dutasteride has been proposed as an effective method to improve hair loss and reducing systemic absorption.
OBJECTIVE
The main objective was to describe the safety profile of mesotherapy with dutasteride in real clinical practice in a large cohort of patients with androgenetic alopecia. A secondary aim was to describe the effectiveness of this treatment.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
A multicentric retrospective study was designed. Patients treated with at least 6 months of follow-up were included in the study. Side effects and response to the treatment were analyzed.
RESULTS
A total of 541 patients were included. The commonest approach during the first year was to perform the treatment every 3 months. Response to the mesotherapy in monotherapy could be assessed in 86 patients (15.9%) after one year. Most of them presented clinical improvement, being a marked improvement in 33 patients (38.4%). Pain was the most frequent side effect of the treatment (246 patients, 45.5%). No serious or sexual adverse events were detected.
CONCLUSION
Mesotherapy with dutasteride was effective in male and female hair loss in real clinical practice. Side effects related to the treatment were mild and self-limited. This therapy may be an effective option for select patients wishing to avoid oral treatment. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(7):742-747. doi:10.36849/JDD.6610.
Topics: Alopecia; Dutasteride; Female; Hair; Humans; Male; Mesotherapy; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35816059
DOI: 10.36849/JDD.6610 -
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.) Mar 2023Millions of new cancer patients receive chemotherapy each year. In addition to killing cancer cells, chemotherapy is likely to damage rapidly proliferating healthy... (Review)
Review
Millions of new cancer patients receive chemotherapy each year. In addition to killing cancer cells, chemotherapy is likely to damage rapidly proliferating healthy cells, including the hair follicle keratinocytes. Chemotherapy causes substantial thinning or loss of hair, termed chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA), in approximately 65% of patients. CIA is often ranked as one of the most distressing adverse effects of chemotherapy, but interventional options have been limited. To date, only scalp cooling has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent CIA. However, several factors, including the high costs not always covered by insurance, preclude its broader use. Here we review the current options for CIA prevention and treatment and discuss new approaches being tested. CIA interventions include scalp cooling systems (both non-portable and portable) and topical agents to prevent hair loss, versus topical and oral minoxidil, photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, among others, to stimulate hair regrowth after hair loss. Evidence-based studies are needed to develop and validate methods to prevent hair loss and/or accelerate hair regrowth in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, which could significantly improve cancer patients' quality of life and may help improve compliance and consequently the outcome of cancer treatment.
Topics: United States; Humans; Quality of Life; Alopecia; Cryotherapy; Neoplasms; Antineoplastic Agents
PubMed: 37185388
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30040275 -
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Mar 2021Pattern hair loss is the most common type of hair loss in both men and women. Scalp hair is typically affected in a characteristic distribution without other scalp or... (Review)
Review
Pattern hair loss is the most common type of hair loss in both men and women. Scalp hair is typically affected in a characteristic distribution without other scalp or dermatologic findings. Early recognition and treatment can help halt its progression to preserve as much hair as possible. Both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments have proven helpful.
Topics: Alopecia; Female; Hair; Humans; Male; Scalp
PubMed: 33648970
DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.88a.20014 -
Cells Mar 2023Androgenetic alopecia is a condition that results in hair loss in both men and women. This can have a significant impact on a person's psychological well-being, which... (Review)
Review
Androgenetic alopecia is a condition that results in hair loss in both men and women. This can have a significant impact on a person's psychological well-being, which can lead to a decreased quality of life. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of using stem cells in androgenic alopecia. The search was conducted in MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The review was performed on data pertaining to the efficacy of using different types of stem cells in androgenic alopecia: quantitative results of stem cell usage were compared to the control treatment or, different types of treatment for female and male androgenetic alopecia. Of the outcomes, the density of hair was analyzed. Fourteen articles were selected for this review. During and after treatment with stem cells, no major side effects were reported by patients with alopecia. The use of stem cells in androgenic alopecia seems to be a promising alternative to the standard treatment or it could play the role of complementary therapy to improve the effect of primary treatment. However, these results should be interpreted with caution until they can be reproduced in larger and more representative samples.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Quality of Life; Alopecia; Hair; Stem Cells
PubMed: 36980291
DOI: 10.3390/cells12060951 -
Annals of Agricultural and... Jun 2022Despite a significant increase in reported cases of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) in literature, discussion about the possible role of environmental factors,... (Review)
Review
Despite a significant increase in reported cases of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) in literature, discussion about the possible role of environmental factors, instruction for diagnosis and guideline for treatment, are limited. The review aims to provide a detailed synthesis of this condition that could be used by clinicians in their practise. Whether single-centre or multi-centre, studies of more than 60 cases less than 5 years old were mainly taken into consideration. Results obtained were that FFA affects mainly postmenopausal Caucasian women; the most common comorbidities are hyperlipidaemia, arterial hypertension, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, depression, alongside dermatological disorders such as atopic dermatitis, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis and androgenetic alopecia. Autoimmune, genetic, hormonal (e.g. estrogen deficiency, pregnancy, lactation, HRT and raloxifene) and environmental (e.g. daily use of facial sunscreens and less frequent use of hair dyes and shampoo) hypotheses were proposed for pathogenesis, as well as association with various predisposing factors (patient's health-social profile, disease's history and comorbidities). Clinical presentation of FFA can be divided into 3 specific patterns, each with a different prognosis. Diagnosis is usually made clinically with the use of trichoscopy; however, scalp biopsy remains the gold standard. The condition is regarded as a variant of lichen planopilaris (LPP) due to the similarity of the prominent histopathological findings, but the clinical image is distinct and therapeutic options vary. 5α-reductase inhibitors, intralesional steroids, and hydroxychloroquine provide the highest level of evidence for the treatment of FFA. The conclusion is that a better understanding of the disease is crucial for proper disease management.
Topics: Alopecia; Child, Preschool; Female; Forehead; Humans; Hydroxychloroquine; Lichen Planus; Scalp
PubMed: 35767748
DOI: 10.26444/aaem/141324 -
Journal Der Deutschen Dermatologischen... Jan 2022Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic, immune-mediated disease characterized by acute or chronic non-scarring hair loss, with a heterogeneity in clinical manifestations...
Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic, immune-mediated disease characterized by acute or chronic non-scarring hair loss, with a heterogeneity in clinical manifestations ranging from patchy hair loss to complete scalp and body hair loss. An overview of the up-to-date pathophysiology and the underlying signaling pathways involved in AA together with diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations will be provided. Current treatments, including topical, systemic and injectable interventions show varying response and frequent relapses reflecting the unmet clinical need. Thus, the new emerging concepts and therapeutic approaches, including Janus kinase inhibitors are eagerly awaited. Traditional and emerging therapies of AA will be discussed, in order to provide physicians with guidance for AA management. Since the latter is so challenging and often tends to take a chronic course, it can have an enormous psychosocial burden on patients, compromising their quality of life and often causing depression and anxiety. Therefore, the psychosocial aspects of the disease need to be evaluated and addressed, in order to implement appropriate psychological support when needed.
Topics: Alopecia; Alopecia Areata; Humans; Immunotherapy; Quality of Life; Recurrence; Scalp
PubMed: 35040577
DOI: 10.1111/ddg.14689