IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 42 / Issue 4 / DOI: 10.12891/ceog1960.2015

Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.

Editorial
An update on the treatment of female alopecia and the introduction of a potential novel therapy
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1 Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, NJ
2 Cooper Institute for Reproductive Hormonal Disorders, P.C., Marlton, NJ
3 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Philadelphia, PA (USA)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2015, 42(4), 411–415; https://doi.org/10.12891/ceog1960.2015
Published: 10 August 2015
Abstract

Purpose: To review treatment options for hair loss in women. Materials and Methods: Suggestions for treatment were based on a thorough literature search plus the present authors’ experience. Results: There are controlled studies that support the present authors’ typical treatment regimen of identifying if there are increased androgens, and if so, identify the source (ovary and/or adrenal) and then suppress with drugs, e.g., oral contraceptives or glucocorticoids. If serum androgens are normal, agents that block dihydrotestosterone at the hair shaft level, e.g., spironolactone or 5α reductase inhibitors seem to be effective. However, a recent Cochrane systematic review concludes that the only drug proven to improve alopecia by randomized controlled studies using rigorous criteria is minoxidil. Conclusions: The present authors will add minoxidil to their normal treatment paradigm based on this later study. The previous reasons for it was the quality of the hair produced (generally much shorter than other head hair). For alopecia related to inflammation, the present authors may have discovered a novel therapy – dextroamphetamine sulfate.
Keywords
Alopecia
Female pattern hair loss
Inflammation
Dihydrotestosterone
Sympathomimetic amines
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