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Lasers in Medical Science Apr 2024Alopecia, also known as hair loss, is a highly prevalent condition affecting millions of men and women in the United States and worldwide, making it one of the most... (Review)
Review
Alopecia, also known as hair loss, is a highly prevalent condition affecting millions of men and women in the United States and worldwide, making it one of the most common complaints by patients presenting to a dermatologist. The symptomology on the presentation of alopecia can be highly variable, ranging from diffuse thinning of hair, discrete and localized patches completely absent of hair, or noticing significant shedding when brushing and showering. Although alopecia does not have a direct negative health impact on patients, it is nonetheless a debilitating disease as it can profoundly impact an individual's self-image and psychosocial well-being. There are multiple treatment options available to patients with alopecia, and they are typically tailored to the patient's needs and preferences. The most common of these is the Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for alopecia, minoxidil, and finasteride. However, both of these are known to be partially efficacious for all patients, so clinicians often use different modalities in conjunction with them, in particular laser-based therapies. This review article will provide a comprehensive assessment of lasers and other light therapies that may be used to manage the two most common types of alopecia: androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Alopecia Areata; Hair; Lasers; Minoxidil
PubMed: 38630348
DOI: 10.1007/s10103-024-04054-7 -
Dermatology Reports Mar 2024Minoxidil is a widely utilized medication androgenic alopecia. An original investigation on its potential to cause hair darkening in treated people is lacking. We...
Minoxidil is a widely utilized medication androgenic alopecia. An original investigation on its potential to cause hair darkening in treated people is lacking. We conducted an observational study using two face-validated questionnaires that dermatologists altered to assess minoxidil's hair discolouration risk. This Saudi Arabian survey collected data in October and November 2022. One questionnaire targeted the population, while the other targeted dermatologists. Survey 1 included 453 patients, 56.7% of whom were 18-24 and mostly female. It's interesting that 26% (n=118) detected hair greying and 14.8% (n=67) noticed other color changes. With P-values of 0.0001, longer-term minoxidil users and those with a family history of hair greying had higher hair discolouration. Dermatologists completed Survey 2 (57 participants). Nearly 60% of dermatologists have ten years of experience. 42.1% of dermatologists saw grey hair after minoxidil use. 17.5% of doctors blame minoxidil for hair graying. This observational study examined the data of over 400 patients to determine if minoxidil could cause hair discoloration. Based on the data, we hypothesize that this drug may cause hair discoloration with prolonged use and in people with a family history of hair greying.
PubMed: 38623369
DOI: 10.4081/dr.2023.9745 -
Cureus Mar 2024Background and objective Alopecia areata (AA) is a reiterative and nonscarring type of hair loss that can affect any hairy area of the body, particularly the scalp. It...
Background and objective Alopecia areata (AA) is a reiterative and nonscarring type of hair loss that can affect any hairy area of the body, particularly the scalp. It manifests as patchy or confluent hair loss with variations in demographics and ethnicity. There are numerous treatment options available, including topical and systemic steroids, topical minoxidil, dithranol, tacrolimus, psoralen and ultraviolet therapy (PUVA), contact immunotherapy, and oral immunosuppressive drugs. However, no previous contrast for efficacy is present between the topical betamethasone versus topical minoxidil alone in our population. This study aims to compare the efficacy of topical betamethasone dipropionate versus topical minoxidil in patients with AA. Methodology A nonrandomized controlled study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Jinnah Hospital Lahore, incorporating the data of patients between July 26, 2016, and January 26, 2017, after obtaining institutional ethical approval. One hundred patients with alopecia, either on the scalp or any other hairy part, from both genders, aged between 18 and 50 years, were included in the study. Two groups were created, and patients were assigned to these groups based on the clinician's choice. Group A patients were administered betamethasone dipropionate (0.05%) lotion twice daily on affected areas for 12 weeks. Group B patients were administered minoxidil (5%) solution twice daily on affected areas for 12 weeks. A four-week follow-up plan was followed. A five-point scale score system was used for alopecia grading. After 12 weeks, the hair regrowth score (RGS) was used to compare the efficacy of treatment between the two groups. Results A total of 100 patients with grades S1 to S3 AA of less than three months duration were enrolled. Two groups were created, with 50 patients in each group. The mean age in Group A was 29.08 ± 6.51 years, while in Group B, it was 29.38 ± 6.62 years. In Group A, there were 76% males and 24% females, while in Group B, there were 74% males and 26% females. Comparison of efficacy of topical betamethasone dipropionate versus topical minoxidil in patients with AA demonstrated a greater efficacy of 74% (Grade 3 and Grade 4 responses) in Group A, while in Group B, only 42% of patients showed efficacy. A statistically significant difference was found, with a -value of 0.001. No serious side effects were noted. Conclusions Our study concluded that topical betamethasone dipropionate (0.05%) lotion has statistically significantly higher efficacy compared to topical minoxidil (5%) solution in patients with AA.
PubMed: 38623137
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56282 -
Nutrients Mar 2024Alopecia, a prevalent yet challenging condition with limited FDA-approved treatments which is accompanied by notable side effects, necessitates the exploration of...
Alopecia, a prevalent yet challenging condition with limited FDA-approved treatments which is accompanied by notable side effects, necessitates the exploration of natural alternatives. This study elucidated the hair growth properties of leaf hydrodistillate (GPHD) both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, damulin B, a major component of GPHD, demonstrated hair growth-promoting properties in vitro. Beyond its established anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory attributes, GPHD exhibited hair growth induction in mice parallel to minoxidil. Moreover, it upregulated the expression of autocrine factors associated with hair growth, including VEGF, IGF-1, KGF, and HGF. Biochemical assays revealed that minoxidil, GPHD, and damulin B induced hair growth via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway through AKT signaling, aligning with in vivo experiments demonstrating improved expression of growth factors. These findings suggest that GPHD and damulin B contribute to the hair growth-inducing properties of dermal papilla cells through the AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Gynostemma; beta Catenin; Minoxidil; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Wnt Signaling Pathway; Hair
PubMed: 38613018
DOI: 10.3390/nu16070985 -
Skin Research and Technology : Official... Apr 2024Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most prevalent type of alopecia among adult women. Presently, topical minoxidil stands as the sole treatment endorsed by the FDA....
BACKGROUND
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most prevalent type of alopecia among adult women. Presently, topical minoxidil stands as the sole treatment endorsed by the FDA. Addressing cases of FPHL in individuals who develop contact dermatitis in response to minoxidil can pose a challenge for dermatologists.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous injections of Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTA) in treating FPHL.
METHODS
Enrolled outpatients with FPHL who exhibited an allergic reaction to minoxidil solution. Diagnosis of FPHL was established through clinical examination and trichoscopy. Inclusion criteria involved patients with no prior treatment within the last year and without any comorbidities. BTA, specifically 100 units, was mixed with 2 mL of 0.9% normal saline. Twenty injection target sites, spaced 2-3 cm apart, were symmetrically marked on the hairless area of the scalp. A dosage of five units was intradermally injected at each target site. Representative photographs and dermoscopic images of the scalp were captured before and after 3 months of treatment.
RESULTS
A total of 10 FPHL, aged between 26 and 40 years, were included. The average age was 30.3 ± 4.64 years, and all patients had a positive family history of Androgenetic Alopecia. The average duration of the disease was 3.70 ± 1.42 years. According to patients' self-assessment, after 1 month of treatment, 10 FPHL patients reported experiencing moderate to marked improvement in symptoms related to scalp oil secretion. Three months later, dermatological assessments showed that three had mild improvement, six had no change, and one had a worsening condition. No adverse effects were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that the effectiveness of BTA for FPHL is limited to 3 months. However, it can be considered for tentative use after effective communication with patients. The long-term efficacy and safety of BTA in treating FPHL require further observation and study.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Minoxidil; Botulinum Toxins, Type A; Alopecia; Scalp
PubMed: 38602262
DOI: 10.1111/srt.13696 -
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational... 2024
PubMed: 38601954
DOI: 10.2147/CCID.S470453 -
International Journal of Pharmaceutics:... Jun 2024Bimatoprost (BIM) is a prostaglandin F2α analogs originally approved for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Recent studies have highlighted its...
Spanlastic-laden nanogel as a plausible platform for dermal delivery of bimatoprost with superior cutaneous deposition and hair regrowth efficiency in androgenic alopecia.
Bimatoprost (BIM) is a prostaglandin F2α analogs originally approved for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Recent studies have highlighted its potential to boost hair growth. The objective of this investigation is to challenge the potential of spanlastics (SLs) as a surfactant-based vesicular system for promoting the cutaneous delivery of BIM for the management of alopecia. BIM-loaded spanlastics (BIM-SLs), composed of Span as the main vesicle component and Tween as the edge activator, were fabricated by ethanol injection method. The formulated BIM-SLs were optimized by 2 full factorial design. The optimized formula (F1) was characterized for entrapment efficiency, surface charge, vesicle size, and drug release after 12 h (Q). The optimized formula (F1) exhibited high drug entrapment efficiency (83.1 ± 2.1%), appropriate zeta potential (-19.9 ± 2.1 mV), Q of 71.3 ± 5.3%, and a vesicle size of 364.2 ± 15.8 nm, which favored their cutaneous accumulation. In addition, skin deposition studies revealed that entrapping BIM within spanlastic-based nanogel (BIM-SLG) augmented the dermal deposition of BIM, compared to naïve BIM gel. Furthermore, studies verified the efficacy of spanlastic vesicles to boost the cutaneous accumulation of BIM compared to naive BIM gel; the AUC of BIM-SLG was 888.05 ± 72.31 μg/mL.h, which was twice as high as that of naïve BIM gel (AUC 382.86 ± 41.12 μg/mL.h). Intriguingly, BIM-SLG outperforms both naïve BIM gel and commercial minoxidil formulations in stimulating hair regrowth in an androgenetic alopecia mouse model. Collectively, spanlastic vesicles might be a potential platform for promoting the dermal delivery of BIM in managing alopecia.
PubMed: 38577618
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2024.100240 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2024Dandruff, a common scalp disorder characterized by flaking dead skin, is often treated with conventional topical products. However, limitations exist due to potential...
Dandruff, a common scalp disorder characterized by flaking dead skin, is often treated with conventional topical products. However, limitations exist due to potential side effects and high costs. Therefore, searching for natural, cost-effective solutions for dandruff and hair loss is crucial. Rosemary herb and neem tree, both cultivated in Egypt, possess well-documented anti-inflammatory properties derived from their rich phenolic phytoconstituents. This study formulated a standardized combined extract of rosemary and neem (RN-E 2:1) into hair gel and leave-in tonic formats. This extract demonstrated superior efficacy against Malassezia furfur (a causative agent of dandruff) and Trichophyton rubrum (associated with scalp disorders) compared to the conventional antifungal agent, ketoconazole. The combined extract (RN-E 2:1) also exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, the suppression of iNOS expression is considered concentration-dependent. Quality control verified formulation stability, and ex-vivo studies confirmed effective ingredient penetration into the epidermis, the primary site of fungal presence. Remarkably, both formulations outperformed the standard treatment, minoxidil in hair growth trials. These findings highlight the potential of natural extracts for scalp and hair health.
Topics: Dandruff; Rosmarinus; Azadirachta; Alopecia; Plant Extracts; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 38565924
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57838-w -
Dermatology and Therapy Apr 2024Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent, multifactorial form of hair loss involving complex aetiological factors, such as altered androgen regulation and energy...
INTRODUCTION
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent, multifactorial form of hair loss involving complex aetiological factors, such as altered androgen regulation and energy metabolism. Existing treatments offer limited success, thus highlighting the need for advanced, personalised therapeutic strategies. This study focuses on correlating the genetic mechanisms of AGA with molecular targets involved in the response to current treatment modalities.
METHODS
An anonymised database including 26,607 patients was subjected to analysis. The dataset included information on patients' genotypes in 26 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), specifically, and diagnosed AGA grades, representing a broad range of ethnic backgrounds.
RESULTS
In our sample, 64.6% of males and 35.4% of females were diagnosed with female pattern hair loss. This distribution aligns well with prior studies, thus validating the representativeness of our dataset. AGA grading was classified using the Hamilton-Norwood and Ludwig scales, although no association was found to the grade of the disease. SNP association analysis revealed eight SNPs, namely rs13283456 (PTGES2), rs523349 (SRD5A2), rs1800012 (COL1A1), rs4343 (ACE), rs10782665 (PTGFR), rs533116 (PTGDR2), rs12724719 (CRABP2) and rs545659 (PTGDR2), to be statistically significant with a p-value below 0.05.
CONCLUSIONS
The study establishes a preliminary association between eight specific SNPs and AGA. These genetic markers offer insights into the variability of therapeutic responses, thus underlining the importance of personalised treatment approaches. Our findings show the potential for more targeted research to understand these SNPs' and further roles in AGA pathophysiology and in modulating treatment response.
PubMed: 38555553
DOI: 10.1007/s13555-024-01142-y -
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational... 2024The utilization of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) has emerged as a relatively new treatment option for hair loss, gaining recognition among dermatologists worldwide.
BACKGROUND
The utilization of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) has emerged as a relatively new treatment option for hair loss, gaining recognition among dermatologists worldwide.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice patterns among dermatologists in Saudi Arabia regarding the use of LDOM in the management of hair loss.
METHODS
An online survey, which was distributed to dermatologists practicing in Saudi Arabia through email and mobile messages. Both univariate and bivariate analyses were performed to investigate the factors that may be associated with enhanced knowledge and practice patterns concerning the utilization of LDOM for the management of hair loss.
RESULTS
A total of 84 dermatologists was included in this study, with 50 (60%) being male. It was found that 83 (99%) of the participants identified patterned hair loss as the most common indication for LDOM usage. Additionally, 77 (92%) recognized hypertrichosis as a well-known side effect. 48 (82%) of the dermatologists had never prescribed LDOM due to its unavailability in local pharmacies.
CONCLUSION
The usage of LDOM for hair disorders is increasing. Nonetheless, many dermatologists abstain from prescribing this medication due to its limited availability in local pharmacies.
PubMed: 38505809
DOI: 10.2147/CCID.S456470