092399 treatment of hair loss

The Ne w E n g l a nd Jo u r n a l o f Me d ic i ne Androgens are important in regulating hair growth.
At puberty, androgens increase the size of follicles inthe beard, chest, and limbs and decrease the size of A L A S T A I R J . J . W O O D , M . D. , Editor follicles in the bitemporal region, which reshapes thehairline in men and many women.
ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA
TREATMENT OF HAIR LOSS
Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary thinning of the hair induced by androgens in genetically suscep- tible men and women.7,8 This condition is also knownas male-pattern hair loss or common baldness in menand as female-pattern hair loss in women. Thinning AIR loss is a common and distressing symp- of the hair usually begins between the ages of 12 and 40 years in both sexes, and approximately half promote hair growth — finasteride and mi- the population expresses this trait to some degree noxidil — we can now treat patients with some types before the age of 50.9,10 The pattern of inheritance of hair loss. Both drugs influence the hair-growth cy- cle and increase the length and diameter of existing Pathophysiology
hair, although their mechanisms of action differ. Inthis article, I will focus on the treatment of two com- In susceptible hair follicles of the scalp, dihydro- mon problems, androgenetic alopecia and alopecia testosterone binds to the androgen receptor, and the areata, both of which involve a reversible alteration hormone-receptor complex then activates the genes responsible for the gradual transformation of large,terminal follicles to miniaturized follicles.13-16 With THE HAIR-GROWTH CYCLE
successive hair cycles, the duration of anagen shortens Hair growth is cyclic, with phases of growth (an- and the follicles become smaller, producing shorter, agen), involution (catagen), and rest (telogen) (Fig.
finer hairs that cover the scalp poorly. These minia- 1).1-3 The cycles of active growth and rest are regu- turized hairs of various lengths and diameters are the lated by complex messages between the epithelium hallmark of androgenetic alopecia.8,10,17 At the same and the dermis that are not yet well understood. In time, the number of follicles per unit of area remains a normal scalp, most follicles are growing (90 to 95 percent), a few are undergoing involution (less than Dihydrotestosterone is formed by the peripheral 1 percent), and the remainder are resting (5 to 10 per- conversion of testosterone by 5a-reductase. There are cent).4-6 At the end of telogen, hair is released and two isoforms of 5a-reductase — type 1 and type 2 — shed and the next cycle is initiated. Each day, up to which, together with other enzymes, regulate specific 100 hairs in telogen are shed from the head and about steroid transformations in the skin. Young men and the same number of follicles enter anagen. The du- young women with androgenetic alopecia have higher ration of anagen determines the length of hair, and levels of 5a-reductase, more androgen receptors, and the volume of the hair bulb determines the diameter.
lower levels of cytochrome P-450 aromatase, which We are born with all our terminal hair follicles — converts testosterone to estradiol, in hair follicles in approximately 100,000 on the scalp — that are pre- the frontal region of the scalp than in the occipital determined to grow long, thick hair. Other follicles region.18 The various clinical patterns of androgenet- are predetermined to grow vellus hair, which is short, ic alopecia in men and women may reflect quanti- fine, and relatively nonpigmented and covers much tative differences in the levels of 5a-reductase, the of the body. Follicles can become larger or smaller number of androgen receptors, and the levels of aro- under systemic and local influences that alter the du- matase in specific regions of the scalp at various ages.
ration of anagen and the volume of the hair matrix.
Treatment in Men
In men, androgenetic alopecia ranges from the bitemporal recession of hair, to thinning of the fron- From the Department of Dermatology, University of California at San tal and vertex regions of the scalp, to complete bald- Francisco, San Francisco. Address reprint requests to Dr. Price at 350 Par- ness and loss of all hair except the occipital and tem- nassus Ave., Ste. 404, San Francisco, CA 94117.
1999, Massachusetts Medical Society.
poral fringes. In some cases, men have diffuse thinning Downloaded from www.nejm.org at ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MED on July 18, 2004.
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D R U G T H E R A P Y
TABLE 1. SELECTIVE ACTIONS OF TESTOSTERONE
Testosterone
Spermatogenesis
Dihydrotestosterone
Growth of prostate
Growth of terminal hair (beard, limbs, trunk, exter-
Bitemporal reshaping of hairlineAndrogenetic alopeciaAcne Figure 1. Cycle of Scalp-Hair Growth.
is based on the absence of androgenetic alopecia in Every scalp hair has a phase of growth (anagen), which lasts men with congenital deficiency of type 2 5a-reduc- two to six years; a phase of involution (catagen), which lasts two tase19,23-26 and the presence of increased 5a-reductase to three weeks; and a resting phase (telogen), which lasts two to activity and dihydrotestosterone levels in hair follicles three months and is followed by shedding of the hair. The cycleis then repeated. All hair loss affects or disrupts one of these of men with balding scalps.16,18,27,28 Finasteride rapid- ly lowers serum and scalp dihydrotestosterone levelsby more than 60 percent. It has no affinity for theandrogen receptor and therefore does not interferewith the actions of testosterone (Table 1), and it has all over the scalp. The pattern of hair loss, combined no androgenic, estrogenic, progestational, or other with onset at an early age and the presence of min- iaturized hairs, supports the diagnosis.
In three randomized, double-blind, placebo-con- The goal of therapy is to increase coverage of the trolled studies, a total of 1879 men who were 18 to scalp and to retard further hair thinning. In the 41 years old with mild to moderately severe thin- United States, oral finasteride, at a dose of 1 mg per ning of the hair but not complete baldness received day, and topical solutions of 5 percent and 2 percent oral finasteride at a dose of 1 mg per day or placebo minoxidil are currently the only drugs approved for for one year.29-31 Two of these studies enrolled a total promoting hair growth in men with androgenetic of 1553 men with loss of hair predominantly at the alopecia. Both drugs can increase coverage of the scalp vertex, and the third enrolled 326 men with predom- by enlarging existing hairs, and both retard further inantly frontal hair loss. As compared with placebo, thinning, in both the vertex and the frontal regions.
finasteride significantly increased hair counts and im- However, neither drug restores all the hair, and the proved scalp coverage, as was evident in photographs response differs among men. A good candidate for treatment has definite thinning and many miniatur- In the men with hair loss at the vertex, the initial ized hairs. If thinning is minimal, the main perceived treatment was continued for a second year, but some response may be retardation of further thinning. Nei- men who received placebo for the first year were giv- ther drug benefits men who are completely bald or en finasteride and some who initially received finas- those with bitemporal recession without visible hair.
teride were given placebo in the second year (Fig.
In general, treatment for 6 to 12 months is needed to 2). In the second year, hair counts remained stable at improve scalp coverage. Continued treatment is need- the increased level in the men who continued to re- ed to maintain benefit; if treatment is stopped, the ceive finasteride. Hair counts decreased in the men benefits will be lost within 6 to 12 months and hair who were switched from finasteride to placebo after density will be the same as it would have been with- one year, whereas the counts increased in those switched from placebo to finasteride. There was a pro-gressive increase in scalp coverage, as determined by Finasteride
global photographs of the scalp, in 66 percent of the Finasteride is a competitive inhibitor of type 2 finasteride group, as compared with 7 percent of 5a-reductase and inhibits the conversion of testos- the placebo group, after two years.29 These results terone to dihydrotestosterone.19-22 The rationale for indicate that the number of responding hairs is es- the use of finasteride to treat male-pattern hair loss tablished after about one year and that continued Downloaded from www.nejm.org at ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MED on July 18, 2004.
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The Ne w E n g l a nd Jo u r n a l o f Me d ic i ne male-pattern hair loss in men who were predomi- nantly in their 60s and 70s and who were treated with 5 mg of finasteride daily for benign prostatic Finasteride at a dose of 1 mg daily is safe and well tolerated. The only adverse effects in the clinical tri- als, which included 1879 men, were reversible and were reported by slightly more men in the finaster- ide than in the placebo group; these effects included decreased libido in 1.8 percent of the men in the fi- nasteride group, as compared with 1.3 percent in theplacebo group; erectile dysfunction in 1.3 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively; and ejaculatory dys- function in 1.2 percent and 0.7 percent.31 These sex- ual adverse effects gradually disappeared during pro- longed treatment and disappeared in days or weeks In men 18 to 41 years old who were taking 1 mg of finasteride daily, serum prostate-specific antigenlevels decreased by 0.2 ng per milliliter,31 which was Figure 2. Change in the Mean (±SE) Hair Count from Base Line
not a clinically important reduction. However, in old- (Month 0) at the Anterior Leading Edge of the Vertex ThinningArea in Men Given 1 mg of Finasteride or Placebo Daily for 24 er men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, finasteride at doses of 1 mg or 5 mg daily decreases serum pros- In the second year, some men who received placebo during the tate-specific antigen levels by about 50 percent. In first 12 months were given finasteride and some who initially older men who are taking finasteride, the results of received finasteride were given placebo. The dotted line indi- a prostate-specific antigen test should be doubled to cates no change. Adapted from Kaufman et al.29 with the per- compensate for the effect of the drug.32-34 Minoxidil
Minoxidil promotes hair growth when it has been treatment increases the length, diameter, and pig- affected by various conditions, including androge- mentation of these hairs so that coverage of the scalp netic alopecia. It increases the duration of anagen and enlarges miniaturized and suboptimal follicles, irre- After two years of treatment with finasteride, spective of the underlying cause. For example, in ad- about two thirds of men have improved scalp cover- dition to its effectiveness in patients with androgenet- age, about one third have the same amount of hair as ic alopecia, minoxidil promotes hair growth in patients they did at the outset, and about 1 percent lose hair.
with alopecia areata, congenital hypotrichosis, and Since the miniaturization of follicles occurs over the loose anagen syndrome. Minoxidil was developed to course of many years, reversal of this process also takes treat hypertension, and this aspect of the drug’s action many years. With treatment for more than two years, is the one that is best understood. It is a potassium- the clinical impression is that scalp coverage continues channel opener and vasodilator. Its mechanism of ac- to increase; five-year controlled studies are in prog- tion with respect to the stimulation of hair growth ress to verify this impression. It is not known to what is not known, but it appears to be independent of extent follicles will enlarge, and there is no way to vasodilatation.35-38 The addition of minoxidil to cul- identify the men who will have the best response.
tures of hair follicles increases survival.35 In December 1997, 1-mg tablets of finasteride A 2 percent solution of topical minoxidil was ap- were approved by the Food and Drug Administration proved by the FDA in 1988 for promoting hair (FDA) for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in growth in men with androgenetic alopecia. Its effica- men. It is to be given once daily, with or without cy was established in a 12-month placebo-controlled food. No dosage adjustments are needed on the ba- study of 2294 men who were 18 to 50 years old and sis of age or renal function. It is metabolized in the had mild-to-moderate thinning of the hair at the liver and should be used with caution in men with vertex. Treatment with minoxidil significantly in- abnormal liver function. In men who are 60 years of creased hair counts.10,39-41 Histologic studies con- age or older, finasteride may not be an effective treat- firmed that minoxidil increases the diameter of the ment for male-pattern hair loss, because type 2 5a- reductase activity in the scalp may not be as high as In 1997, a 5 percent solution of topical minoxidil in younger men. This decreased activity may partly ex- was approved by the FDA as an over-the-counter treat- plain why there have been few reports of reversal of ment for promoting hair growth. In a 48-week study Downloaded from www.nejm.org at ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MED on July 18, 2004.
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D R U G T H E R A P Y
of twice-daily treatment with the 5 percent solution, the 2 percent solution, or placebo in 393 men who were 18 to 49 years old and had mild-to-moderate thinning at the vertex, hair counts were 45 percent higher among the 157 men in the group receiving5 percent minoxidil than among the 158 men in the group receiving 2 percent minoxidil and almost fivetimes as high as those among the 78 men in the pla- The efficacy of drugs that stimulate hair growth can also be assessed by clipping and weighing hairgrown in a small, marked area on the scalp.44,45 Thismethod was used in a 96-week double-blind study of four groups of nine men with androgenetic alope-cia.45 Three groups received one of the following: 5 percent topical minoxidil, 2 percent topical minox- Figure 3. Mean Percent Change in Hair Weight per Square Cen-
idil, or placebo; the fourth group received no treat- timeter of Scalp from Base Line (Week 0) among Men with An- ment. Hair samples were taken from the frontal area drogenetic Alopecia Who Received 5 Percent Minoxidil, 2 Per- of the scalp. After 96 weeks, treatment was stopped cent Minoxidil, Placebo, or No Treatment for 96 Weeks.
and the men were followed for 24 more weeks. Both The dotted line indicates no change, and the vertical arrow at96 weeks marks the cessation of treatment. Adapted from Price solutions of minoxidil were significantly superior (P< et al.45 with the permission of the publisher.
0.05) to placebo or no treatment in promoting hairgrowth and slowing hair loss, with the 5 percent so-lution having the greater efficacy (Fig. 3); the placeboand untreated groups had a steady decrease in hairweight of about 6 percent per year. In the groups re- solution because of its higher content of propylene ceiving minoxidil, the peak hair weight was followed glycol. Minoxidil or the formulated solution may also by a similar small decline during this period. Never- cause allergic contact dermatitis or photoallergic con- theless, the hair weight in the minoxidil groups was tact dermatitis.48-50 Hypertrichosis is another derma- about 30 percent greater than that in the placebo tologic adverse effect, which occurs in women but is and untreated groups. The rapid loss of hair weight after treatment with minoxidil was stopped (Fig. 3) Neither the 5 percent nor the 2 percent solution confirms its substantial growth-promoting effect.
of minoxidil alters systolic or diastolic blood pres- Minoxidil initially causes a surge of growth in min- sure, pulse rate, or body weight when applied twice iaturized hairs (Fig. 3). These hairs continue to have daily.43,51 With the 5 percent solution, the mean se- a shortened growth cycle and fall out quickly, which rum level of minoxidil is 1.2 ng per milliliter, well explains the temporary increase in shedding that pa- below the level of 20.0 ng per milliliter at which tients may notice after 10 to 12 weeks of therapy.
minimal hemodynamic changes in pulse rate and One milliliter of minoxidil solution must be applied twice daily to achieve and then maintain efficacy.46The solution is applied to the scalp and spread lightly Treatment in Women
with a finger; massage is not needed. Spray applica- Androgenetic alopecia occurs as often in women tors are not recommended, because most of the so- as in men but is camouflaged by hair styling (Table lution reaches the hair rather than the scalp. Men us- 2). In women, the thinning of hair is diffuse but is ing minoxidil who wish to take finasteride should most marked on the frontal or parietal areas of the continue to apply minoxidil for at least four months scalp. The process is milder in women than in men after starting finasteride to prevent the loss of hair because of differences in the level of 5a-reductase that occurs after the cessation of minoxidil treatment and cytochrome P-450 aromatase and in the number (Fig. 3).45 The combined use of minoxidil and finas- of androgen receptors in the hair follicles of the teride has not been studied in humans, but in a study scalp.18 Women typically retain a rim of hair along the in stumptail macaques the effect of minoxidil and fi- frontal hairline, even when the scalp is visible.8,10,52 nasteride combined was greater than the effect of Increased spacing between hairs makes the “central part” look wider over the frontal region of the scalp The adverse effects of topical minoxidil are mainly than over the occipital region. The patient may note dermatologic. Irritation of the scalp, including dry- that her “ponytail” is much thinner. The diagnosis ness, scaling, itching, and redness, occurs in approx- of androgenetic alopecia is supported by these clin- imately 7 percent of patients who use the 2 percent ical features, the presence of miniaturized hairs with solution and in more of those who use the 5 percent large variation in diameter and length, and onset at an Downloaded from www.nejm.org at ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MED on July 18, 2004.
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The Ne w E n g l a nd Jo u r n a l o f Me d ic i ne TABLE 2. MISCONCEPTIONS AND FACTS ABOUT ANDROGENETIC
TABLE 3. EVALUATION OF WOMEN WITH ANDROGENETIC
MISCONCEPTION
CONDITIONS TO BE RULED OUT
OR ASSESSED
MEANS OF EVALUATION
the following are present: irregular menses, infertil- Use of teasing, hair Use of hair styling, teasing, *Androgen excess should be considered if any of the following are present: irregular menses, infertility, hirsutism, severe cystic acne, viriliza- *The incidence is the same as that among men.
the 5 percent solution was not significantly moreeffective than the 2 percent solution. An ongoing52-week placebo-controlled study of more than 500 early age. Biopsy of the scalp is not routinely needed women is comparing the effectiveness of the two but is helpful when the diagnosis is uncertain.
Most women with androgenetic alopecia have nor- Minoxidil solution must be applied twice daily, mal menses, pregnancies, and endocrine function, which is a large drawback for some women. If the including normal serum androgen levels. Extensive hair has been washed, the scalp must be completely hormonal evaluation is not usually needed unless oth- dry before minoxidil is applied. The solution must er symptoms and signs of androgen excess are present be applied directly to the scalp with a dropper or ex- (Tables 2 and 3). Other causes of hair loss may need The severity and type of adverse effects of minox- Women with androgenetic alopecia are often more idil in women are the same as those in men, except devastated by their thinning hair than are men.54,55 that hypertrichosis is more common. The incidence They need reassurance that they will not become bald of hypertrichosis is about 3 to 5 percent among wom- and that they may safely use hair sprays, dyes, and en who use 2 percent minoxidil and is higher among permanents to make their hair appear fuller (Table 2).
those who use the 5 percent solution, although pre-cise data are lacking. It occurs above the eyebrows, Minoxidil
in the malar region, laterally on the cheeks, and occa- Topical minoxidil solution is the only drug avail- sionally above the upper lip and on the chin. Hyper- able for promoting hair growth in women with an- trichosis diminishes or disappears after about one drogenetic alopecia. The 2 percent solution of minox- year, even with continued use of minoxidil, and it re- idil was approved for this use by the FDA in 1991 solves within one to six months after the drug is after it was found to be effective in two double- stopped. Bleaching of the longer, darker hair usually blind, placebo-controlled, 32-week studies of 550 suffices for cosmetic purposes; hair-removal proce- women who were 18 to 45 years old.56,57 The mi- dures are seldom needed. The reason for this sym- noxidil-treated women had significantly higher hair metric, dose-related hypertrichosis is not clear; local counts than the women who received placebo. In a intravascular spread by the extensive blood supply of third 32-week study (of eight women), in which hair the scalp, inadvertent manual transfer of minoxidil to weight was the primary end point, the average total the face, and contact with a pillow onto which mi- hair weight increased by 42.5 percent in the minox- noxidil has been transferred from the scalp have been idil group as compared with 1.9 percent in the pla- The 5 percent solution of topical minoxidil was Finasteride
compared with the 2 percent solution in a total of Finasteride is contraindicated in women who are 493 women with androgenetic alopecia in two pla- or may become pregnant, because 5a-reductase in- cebo-controlled studies, one 32 weeks long and the hibitors may cause abnormalities of the external gen- other 48 weeks long. On the basis of hair-count data, italia of male fetuses. This contraindication is based Downloaded from www.nejm.org at ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MED on July 18, 2004.
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D R U G T H E R A P Y
on findings in men with 5a-reductase deficiency.19,23 The assumption that alopecia areata is an autoim- In 136 postmenopausal women with androgenetic mune disease is based on the presence of activated alopecia who were given 1 mg of finasteride or pla- CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes around affected anagen cebo daily for one year, both groups lost hair and hair bulbs61,62 and on the ability to transfer alopecia there was no significant difference in hair loss be- areata by T lymphocytes from affected scalp to ex- tween the finasteride and placebo groups.58 plants of human scalp on mice with severe combinedimmunodeficiency.63 As is the case with many other Estrogen
autoimmune diseases, there is a strong association of The role of estrogen in hair growth in humans is alopecia areata with certain HLA class II alleles, es- not clear. Estrogen, both oral and topical, has been pecially DQB1*03 and DRB1*1104, which appear used in women with androgenetic alopecia, although to be markers of general susceptibility to alopecia ar- no controlled studies have been done. Since topical eata.64-66 In addition, the frequency of two other al- minoxidil solution seems to be more effective than leles — DRB1*0401 and DQB1*0301 — is signifi- estrogen in terms of improving scalp coverage and cantly increased among patients with alopecia totalis slowing further hair loss, in my own practice, I no and those with alopecia universalis, the most exten- longer prescribe estrogen for women with androge- netic alopecia. Nevertheless, the activity of aroma-tase in hair follicles in the frontal and occipital re- Treatment
gions of the scalp hair is significantly higher in Patients with alopecia areata are treated with ei- women with androgenetic alopecia than in men ther immunomodulating therapies, such as gluco- with this condition. This higher activity may have a corticoids, topical immunotherapy, or anthralin, or role in the milder expression of this trait in women.18 biologic-response modifiers, such as minoxidil.61,67,68 When an oral contraceptive or a combination of These treatments stimulate hair growth but do not estrogen and progestin is prescribed for women with prevent hair loss and probably do not influence the androgenetic alopecia, care should be taken to select course of the disease. Treatment should be contin- a progestin with little or no androgenic activity, ued until remission occurs or until residual patches such as norgestimate or ethynodiol diacetate. Wom- of alopecia are concealed by regrown hair, which en with this condition should not take testosterone may take months or years. The choice of therapy de- or androgen precursors, such as dehydroepiandros- pends primarily on the patient’s age and the extent of the hair loss (Table 4).67,69 Treatment is most ef-fective in milder cases; no treatment works well for Spironolactone
patients with total (100 percent) loss of scalp hair.
Spironolactone is a weak competitive inhibitor of Hair follicles are not destroyed in patients with the binding of androgen to its receptor, and it de-creases the synthesis of testosterone as well. It hassome efficacy in the treatment of hirsutism.59 It seemsto have little efficacy in women with androgeneticalopecia, but no controlled studies have been done TABLE 4. TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH ALOPECIA AREATA,
ACCORDING TO AGE AND SEVERITY OF CONDITION.* and there are no data on hair count or hair weight,nor are there any photographic data.
Patients «10 years of age
5% Topical minoxidil solution, topical glucocorticoid, or both
ALOPECIA AREATA
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that af- Patients >10 years of age
fects almost 2 percent of the U.S. population.60 It ranges in severity from small, round patches of hair Intralesional glucocorticoid, 5% topical minoxidil solution, or both, with loss that regrow spontaneously to persistent, exten- sive patchy involvement to the loss of all scalp hair 5% Topical minoxidil solution, with or without topical glucocorticoid (alopecia totalis) or all scalp and body hair (alopecia universalis). Alopecia areata affects both sexes equal- ly and occurs at all ages, although children and young adults are affected most often. Spontaneous remission and recurrence are common. The patients Intralesional glucocorticoid, 5% topical minoxidil solution, or both are usually otherwise healthy, but atopy, thyroid dis- *The National Alopecia Areata Foundation, 710 C St., Ste. 11, San Rafael, ease, and vitiligo are more common among them CA 94901-3853 (telephone number, 415-456-4644; Web site, www.
than among the general population. Measurement alopeciaareata.com), provides informational brochures, newsletters, research of serum thyrotropin is recommended for children updates, sources of scalp prostheses, videotapes for schoolchildren, and lo-cations of support groups and holds an annual conference to help patients with alopecia areata, as well as those with a family †Anthralin is left on the scalp for 20 to 60 minutes.
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The Ne w E n g l a nd Jo u r n a l o f Me d ic i ne TABLE 5. SUGGESTED METHODS OF TREATMENT FOR ALOPECIA AREATA.
Intralesional glucocorticoid
All sites
The preferred compound is triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/ml),* administered with a 3-ml syringe with a 30-gauge, 1/2-in.-long needle. Inject 0.1 ml or less into the mid-dermis at multiple sites 1 cm apart; do not raise wheal or inject into subcutaneous tissue. Repeat every 4 to 6 weeks; if atrophy of the skin occurs, do not reinject affected site until atrophy resolves. Optional topical anesthesia may be used: apply a mixture of 2.5% lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine (Emla cream) in a thick layer to intact skin and cover with occlusive dressing for one hour before injections are given; remove cream immediately before injections.
The maximal dose is 20 mg per visit. When more than 50% of scalp is affected, inject only selected sites.
The maximal dose is 1.25 mg per visit injected into the mid-dermis of each brow at 5 or 6 sites (for a total of 2.5 mg The maximal dose is 7.5 mg per visit.
5% Topical minoxidil solution
Scalp and beard
The maximal dose is 1 ml per application. Apply twice daily to affected sites. Spread solution with fingers. Wash hands afterward. This treatment is not effective for patients with total (100 percent) loss of scalp hair.
Apply two applications to each eyebrow with a finger twice daily, using a mirror to ensure precise placement. Hold a cotton ball over the eye for protection. Wash hands afterward.
Anthralin (short contact)†
Apply 0.5 to 1% anthralin cream to affected scalp once daily; leave on 20 to 30 minutes daily for 2 wk, then 45 minutes
daily for 2 wk, up to a maximum of 1 hour daily. Wash hands afterward and avoid getting anthralin in the eyes. Remove from scalp with mineral oil, then wash off with soap and water. Do not use on brows or beard. Some patients tolerate overnight application.
Topical glucocorticoid
Apply twice daily.
Topical immunotherapy
Use diphencyprone or squaric acid dibutyl ester to induce contact sensitization. For initial sensitization, apply 2% solution
of selected contact allergen in acetone to a 4-cm2 area on one side of the scalp. After initial sensitization, apply diluted solution of contact allergen weekly to same half of scalp in two coats. The patient washes off the allergen after 48 hr after both the sensitizing application and subsequent weekly applications. Adjust concentration of allergen according to the response to the previous week’s treatment. Desired responses include mild itching, erythema, and scaling. Concentrations of allergen that elicit responses range from 0.0001%, 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0% to 2.0%. After hair growth is established on the treated side (in 3 to 12 months), then both sides of the scalp are treated. Apply contact sensitizer with wooden applicator tipped with generous amount of cotton (the physician or nurse applying weekly treatment must wear gloves). To minimize side effects, it is recommended that the allergen be applied in a physician’s office and not given to the patient for use at home.
Oral glucocorticoids
Active, extensive, or rapidly spreading alopecia areata
For patients weighing »60 kg the recommended treatment is 40 mg of oral prednisone daily for 1 wk; then 35 mg daily for 1 wk; 30 mg daily for 1 wk; 25 mg daily for 1 wk; 20 mg daily for 3 days; 15 mg daily for 3 days; 10 mg daily for 3 days; and 5 mg daily for 3 days. Prednisone may be used with 5% topical minoxidil solution twice daily and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections given as above, every 4 to 6 weeks. Topical therapy should be continued twice daily, with or without intralesional injections every 4 to 6 weeks, after prednisone is tapered.
Twenty mg of oral prednisone should be given daily or every other day; dose should be tapered slowly by increments of 1 mg after the condition is stable.
*Concentrations of 2.5 to 8 mg per milliliter may also be used.
†Anthralin is left on the scalp for 20 to 60 minutes.
alopecia areata, and the potential for regrowth al- ment; the brow and beard area may also be injected ways remains. Alopecia areata can be psychologically (Tables 4 and 5).67,69 The preferred treatment is tri- devastating. The National Alopecia Areata Founda- amcinolone acetonide, 10 mg per milliliter. I inject tion is a useful resource for patients with this condi- it undiluted in all sites, although others use dilutions of 2.5 to 8 mg per milliliter. Very small volumes (0.1ml or less) are injected into the mid-dermis in multi- Glucocorticoids
ple sites 1 cm apart. New hair growth is usually visible Intralesional injection of a glucocorticoid is the in four weeks. The main side effect is local skin at- most common treatment for alopecia areata in the rophy, which can be minimized by injecting small vol- United States for patients with limited scalp involve- umes only into the mid-dermis, taking care not to Downloaded from www.nejm.org at ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MED on July 18, 2004.
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D R U G T H E R A P Y
inject the solution into the epidermis or fat, and re- chronic alopecia areata affecting more than 50 per- peating the injections only every four to six weeks.
cent of the scalp.67,69 Unfortunately, it is investi- Some patients with mild disease do not have a re- gational and is offered at only a few centers in the sponse, possibly because the glucocorticoid receptors United States. The patient is sensitized by applica- in the scalp bind the injected glucocorticoid poorly.70 tion to the scalp of a potent contact allergen, and al- Topical glucocorticoid therapy is favored by some lergic contact dermatitis is subsequently elicited by clinicians, especially for children,71,72 although I have weekly applications of the same agent. The allergens not found it very effective when used alone. Howev- used include diphenylcyclopropenone or diphency- er, topical glucocorticoids may be beneficial in com- prone and squaric acid dibutyl ester.67,82 Mild itching, bination with other therapies, such as 5 percent mi- erythema, and scaling are sufficient to induce hair noxidil, anthralin, or injected glucocorticoids.67,69,71,72 growth67,82-86 (Table 5). The efficacy of topical im- Oral glucocorticoids are effective but are seldom munotherapy has been shown by studies in which used in this chronic condition because of their many half the scalp was treated and the other side served adverse effects. However, they may be indicated in as a control.82-86 Unilateral application of the aller- patients with progressive alopecia areata, either to gen is the recommended method; after growth is es- slow progression or to initiate growth (Table 5).67,73 tablished on one side (in 3 to 12 months), the otherhalf of the scalp is treated as well.67,82-86 The mecha- Minoxidil
nism by which contact sensitization suppresses alope- Several concentrations of topical minoxidil have cia areata is uncertain but may involve the generation been evaluated in adults and children with more than of nonspecific suppressor T cells or the inhibition of 25 percent hair loss due to alopecia areata. Among them, the 5 percent solution of minoxidil was the Among patients with loss of 50 to 99 percent of most effective.72,74-77 It stimulates hair growth in pa- scalp hair, cosmetically acceptable hair growth occurs tients with patchy and extensive alopecia areata but in 40 to 60 percent.67,82,86 In those with total loss, not in patients with total loss of scalp hair.74,75 It can only about 25 percent have cosmetically acceptable be used on the scalp and eyebrows in women and growth. Children as young as seven years have been children and on these areas and the beard in men treated with topical immunotherapy in Europe.87-89 (Table 5). Minoxidil solution must be applied twice The adverse effects of topical immunotherapy in- daily. Hair growth usually appears within 12 weeks, clude itching and cervical lymphadenopathy, which and the response is usually maximal by 1 year; con- are invariably present.67,85,86 Severe blistering and dis- tinued application is needed until full remission oc- seminated eczema may occur. Less commonly, hy- curs. In patients with 25 to 99 percent loss of scalp perpigmentation, hypopigmentation,90 contact urti- hair, treatment with 5 percent minoxidil resulted in caria, and erythema multiforme–like reactions have the growth of cosmetically acceptable hair (sufficient been reported.69,86 To minimize side effects, it is rec- growth to conceal areas of residual hair loss) in about ommended that the allergen be applied in the phy- 40 percent of the patients after one year.74 Anthralin
CONCLUSIONS
Anthralin has a nonspecific, immunomodulating, The treatment of hair loss has been advanced by anti–Langerhans’-cell effect.78 It is safe, and there- two drugs. Finasteride is a highly specific inhibitor fore it is frequently selected for use in children and of type 2 5a-reductase activity and is approved for adults with extensive alopecia areata, including those the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men. Mi- with total loss of scalp hair. Growth of new hair may noxidil is a nonspecific drug that is useful in men, be seen in two to three months after the start of treat- women, and children with various conditions in- ment, and about 25 percent of patients may have cos- cluding androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata.
metically acceptable growth in about six months.79 Future success in treating these and other problems Anthralin is potentially irritating and may cause of hair loss will require continued research on the redness, itching, and scaling. For this reason, anthra- regulation of the hair-growth cycle and basic hair bi- lin cream is often applied and then removed 20 to ology, the development of new therapeutic approach- 60 minutes later (short-contact therapy), although es, and the judicious use of existing drugs.
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