Hair Loss

Cutis. 1989 Jan;43(1):94-8.

Topical minoxidil: review of efficacy and safety.
Katz HI.
Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Topical minoxidil (Rogaine) has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of androgenetic alopecia or male pattern hair loss. It has been approved for such use in many other countries. This paper is a review and summary of the reported efficacy and safety of topical minoxidil in hair loss treatment. The results of anecdotal and controlled clinical trials are included. Realistic appraisal of the restorative and/or preventative potentials of topical minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia is needed.

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Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 2004 Nov;41(6):598-600.

Pathomechanism of androgenetic alopecia and new treatment
Itami S.

Hair Loss Blog

Hair follicles are composed primarily of epithelial and dermal components that develop from embryonic ectoderm and mesoderm respectively. The hair growth cycle is coordinated with complex processes that are dependent on the interactions of epithelial and dermal components. Beard and frontal scalp dermal papilla cells (DPCs) show the characteristics of androgen target cells. These DPCs expressed androgen receptor and type II 5alpha-reductase mRNA. To understand the mode of androgen action in human hair follicles, we developed an in vitro co-culture system using DPCs and follicular keratinocytes. Androgen significantly stimulated the proliferation of keratinocytes co-cultured with beard DPCs, suggesting that these DPCs produce androgen-dependent diffusible growth factors. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was identified as one of the androgen dependent paracrine growth factors from beard DPCs. On the other hand, we identified inhibitory roles of androgen on the growth of keratinocytes co-cultured with DPCs from human balding frontal scalp, when DPCs were transfected with the AR expression vector. This inhibitory effect was mediated by TGF-beta1 from the DPCs. Minoxidil and Finasteride were recently introduced for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in Japan, and TGF-beta1 is the next target for innovative treatment.

Int J Clin Pract. 1999 Jan-Feb;53(1):50-3.

Androgenetic alopecia in men: the scale of the problem and prospects for treatment.
Rushton DH.

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While the precise incidence of androgenetic alopecia is unknown, it is universally acknowledged to be the most common hair problem in men. Balding is generally associated with ageing; consequently, the desire to prolong a youthful appearance inevitably leads to demands for effective treatments. Further, changing attitudes in modern society have resulted in people becoming concerned about their appearance and less tolerant about conditions that might be alleviated by medical intervention. The importance of hair loss upon quality of life has been underestimated by the medical profession. Clinicians failing to accept hair loss as an important medical problem ignore the real distress suffered by a significant proportion of those affected. New options for treatment that selectively target the metabolic pathways involved in the balding process are showing promise. The first generation of such drugs, Propecia, is now available in some countries and other molecules are currently under development.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 Mar;16(3 Pt 2):696-704.L

Use of topical minoxidil in the treatment of male pattern baldness.

Savin RC.
This 12-month, double-blind, randomized study evaluated the safety and efficacy of topical minoxidil in the treatment of male pattern baldness. Three formulations were compared: 2% minoxidil solution, 3% minoxidil solution, and placebo. After 4 months all placebo patients crossed over to treatment with the 3% solution. Of the 96 patients randomized into the study, 79 were evaluable at month 12; 25 of these were in the 2% minoxidil group, 24 were in the 3% minoxidil group, and 29 were in the placebo-to-3% solution switchover group. At monthly intervals a hair count was obtained within a 1-inch diameter area on the scalp vertex. In addition, a gross visual estimate of the degree of new hair growth over the entire balding area was made independently by the investigator and the patient. At the end of 4 months there was significant regrowth of nonvellus (terminal and indeterminate) hairs in the patients using the 2% and 3% solutions. The mean nonvellus hair count at month 4 was 162.8 in the 2% minoxidil group, 155.4 in the 3% minoxidil group, and 107.1 in the placebo group. The mean increase in the 2% and 3% treatment groups was 58.2 and 48.8, respectively, whereas the mean increase in the placebo group was 4.0. Total hair counts at month 4 demonstrated significantly more growth of hair in the 2% minoxidil group than in the placebo group (p = 0.013), with no significant difference between the 3% minoxidil group and the other two treatment groups

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Dermatol Clin. 1998 Apr;16(2):341-56. 

Hair regrowth. Therapeutic agents.

Shapiro J, Price VH.

Nippon Rinsho. 2008 May;66(5):892-6. 

Itami S.

Department of Regenerative Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University.

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