Androgenetic Alopecia: Modern Treatments and Breakthroughs

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in men and women. Although widespread, the condition is still challenging to treat, with very few effective conservative treatments.

There are few traditional approaches that are moderately effective, like topical minoxidil use. Some patients may also benefit from oral drugs belonging to the group called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors like finasteride or dutasteride—these oral drugs work by reducing testosterone conversion into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

However, these treatments fail to help in many instances of hair loss, requiring hair transplantation. Fortunately, a few new and promising therapies are also emerging now, and they might help prevent hair loss in many cases.

Below are some of the emerging breakthroughs in androgenetic alopecia treatment.

Secretome

These are bioactive compounds secreted by stem cells into extra-cellular space. The use of stem cell secretome is an emerging technology in regenerative medicine. Since stem cells can transform into other body cells and readily grow or regenerate, they produce many bioactive compounds that promote the growth of various tissues. Early studies suggest that secretomes can promote hair growth, since they are rich in multiple growth factors and peptides known to promote hair growth.

Prostaglandin Inhibitors

It appears that in the scalp of people living with androgenetic alopecia, levels of PGE2 are decreased and PGD2 increased. Higher PGD2 suppresses hair growth, whereas higher PGE2 stimulates it. Studies suggest that some of the synthetic PGE2 analogs like Bimatoprost, Latanoprost, and Cetirizine can promote hair regrowth when applied topically.

Low-level Laser Therapy

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) applied through specific devices is a safe and effective emerging hair loss treatment. It uses near-infrared light that can penetrate deep inside the tissues, promoting hair growth. Numerous clinical studies have confirmed that it may help, with many studies showing statistically significant hair regrowth in both males and females.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

This treatment uses the patient’s blood (thus making it safe) to create plasma with high platelet concentration. Injecting a person with a high number of platelets releases various growth factors and cytokines known to promote wound healing, tissue regrowth, and hair regrowth. Numerous clinical studies show that three to four PRP injections monthly for 4-6 months can help manage androgenetic alopecia in both men and women.

Microneedling

This procedure involves using small needles to create micro-injuries in the scalp, which can stimulate hair growth by releasing blood into the scalp and releasing various growth factors. One of the studies reported that more than 80% of patients in microneedling group had more than 50% improvement in hair growth.

Above are some of the breakthrough treatments. What is good about these various therapies is that they can be safely combined with each other, which may result in much better hair regrowth in those living with androgenetic alopecia.