Male androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, affects a significant portion of the male population and can cause distress and decreased self-esteem. Fortunately, there are various treatment options available to stop hair loss and improve hair density. In this article, we will discuss the different treatments currently available and some potential new developments in the pipeline.
5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors
5-alpha reductase inhibitors are a class of drugs that have been proven to be effective in improving androgenetic alopecia in men. The two most commonly used 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are finasteride and dutasteride. Oral finasteride 1 mg is a US FDA-approved option for treating male androgenetic alopecia. However, dutasteride 0.5 mg has been proven to induce better responses, especially in the frontal area. Both have been shown to be safe in clinical trials but there is widespread concern about sexual adverse effects among patients.
Topical Finasteride
The use of topical finasteride has increased during the last few years as a useful option to avoid systemic therapy. The efficacy of topical finasteride 0.25% daily has been demonstrated in clinical trials, with a less marked decrease in serum dihydrotestosterone levels than with oral intake.
Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy with dutasteride has also become more widespread recently, although evidence of its effectiveness is limited to retrospective studies in real clinical practice.
Oral Minoxidil
The use of oral minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia has not been approved by the FDA, however several clinical studies have shown that it is an effective treatment option. The initial dose recommended to treat male hair loss is 2.5 mg daily, although the dose is frequently increased to 5 mg daily. The main adverse effect of oral minoxidil is hypertrichosis, followed by dizziness or lower limb edema, which are much less common.
Platelet-Rich Plasma
Platelet-rich plasma is a non-pharmacological option to treat male androgenetic alopecia, with some clinical trials demonstrating an improvement in hair count after several months. Among the published studies, the main limitation to compare its efficacy is the heterogeneity of the procedure. The most frequent regimens propose treatment every 4 weeks for 3 months initially to assess the individual response.
Low-Level Laser Therapy
Another treatment alternative is the use of light devices with wavelengths of between 630 and 660 nm, known as low-level laser therapy. These devices can be used at home every day for 15-30 min. Their efficacy has been shown in a limited number of clinical trials; however, there is a lack of evidence about the efficacy of these devices compared with other medical options or as a complementary therapy in hair loss.
New Developments
The pipeline of potential new treatments for male androgenetic alopecia is strong. Pyrilutamide and GT20029 are being studied as topical antagonists of the androgen receptor, while cetirizine is another topical option with some initial promising results. Furthermore, according to isolated studies with heterogeneous treatment schemes, the use of botulinum toxin in the scalp might improve androgenetic alopecia, and lastly, scalp threading might increase the total hair count as growth factors are released during implantation.
Conclusion
Male androgenetic alopecia is a common condition that can cause distress and decreased self-esteem. Fortunately, there are various treatment options available, including 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, topical finasteride, mesotherapy, oral minoxidil, platelet-rich plasma, and low-level laser therapy. There are also some potential new developments in the pipeline, including pyrilutamide, GT20029 are being studied as topical antagonists of the androgen receptor, while cetirizine is another topical option with some initial promising results. Furthermore, according to isolated studies with heterogeneous treatment schemes, the use of botulinum toxin in the scalp might improve androgenetic alopecia, and lastly, scalp threading might increase the total hair count as growth factors are released during implantation.