Table. Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia and the evidence supporting them*.
Treatment | Evidencelevel | Efficacy in preventing progression | Efficacy in improving manifestations | Safety | Practicality for the patient | Practicalityfor the physician |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finasteride (men) | 1 | +++ | ++ | +++ | ++++ | ++ |
Minoxidil 5% (men) | 1 | +++ | ++ | ++++ | +/++ | +++ |
Minoxidil 2% (women) | 1 | +++ | ++ | ++++ | + | +++ |
Oral hormones (for women) - with hyperandrogenism - with normal hormonal status | 3 | + +/– | + +/– | + + | +++ +++ | ++ ++ |
Hair transplantation (men und women) |
4 | – | +++ (men) ++ (women) |
++ | + procedure +++ long-term effect |
+ |
Various other treatments (aloe vera, aminexil, ginkgo, food supplements, etc.) |
insufficient evidence |
inadequately studied in clinical trials |
+/– | unknown | + | + |
*Adapted from (12), Blumeyer et al.: J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2011; for a complete list of all randomized trials, cf. “Guideline Androgenetic Alopecia” at the Internet address
www.euroderm.org/edf/index.php/edf-guidelines/;globalratingfrom-to ++++