Hair loss Treatment with Minoxidil
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J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 Jul;17(1):97-101
Topical minoxidil in male pattern baldness and hair loss: effects of discontinuation of treatment.
Olsen EA, Weiner MS.
Ten men with male pattern baldness who had been treated with 2% or 3% minoxidil for at least 4 months were evaluated for any changes in scalp hair growth on and off drug. Objective assessments by hair counts showed a mean doubling of nonvellus target scalp hairs on topical minoxidil and loss of most of these recruited hairs when the drug was discontinued. Four of ten men had nonvellus hair counts off topical minoxidil that fell below baseline levels. Thus, hair growth on topical minoxidil is not sustained when the drug is discontinued.
Natural history of pattern hair loss
Clin Exp Dermatol. 1990 Jan;15(1):34-6.Natural history of androgenetic alopecia.
Olsen EA, Buller TA, Weiner S, Delong ER.
Twenty-two men with patterns III-Va androgenetic alopecia were entered into a 10-month study aimed at establishing information on the natural progression of hair loss over a period of time typical of studies of hair growth promoters. The methodology employed was the same as that in published clinical trials of topical minoxidil, but the men refrained from application of either active drug or vehicle to their scalps. As one of the potential explanations for the observed 'placebo-effect' seen in non-vellus hair counts in the topical minoxidil trials was a learning curve of novice hair counters, we were particularly interested in evaluating this in our 'no-treatment' trial. To that end, both a novice (Observer I) and an experienced (Observer II) hair counter independently performed the hair counts. There was a mean decline in the number of vertex target area non-vellus hairs (-17.2 +/- 80.3 for Observer I and -26.6 +/- 63.5 for Observer II) at the end of 10 months; this was not significant. The novice's hair counts were lower than the experienced observer's counts at baseline, and the difference remained relatively constant during the study. Without the application of a placebo, there was no increase in hair growth, making it unlikely that the methods of hair counting led to the 'placebo-effect' seen in prior topical minoxidil studies.
Translation: the minoxidil vehicle really does stimulate hair regrowth.
Hair Loss
Link: http://www.drproctor.com
Dr Proctor speciaizes in treatment of Balding, alopecia, and hair loss
Peter H. Proctor, PhD,MD
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