Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
Topical Cetirizine serves as a viable alternative for individuals who cannot tolerate Minoxidil, offering favorable therapeutic effects in the management of female pattern hair loss, albeit with slightly reduced potency.
A randomized controlled noninferiority trial published in "Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology" demonstrated that topical Cetirizine can deliver favorable therapeutic results in the treatment of female pattern hair loss (FPHL), particularly when patients experience intolerance to Minoxidil. Investigators aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of topical Cetirizine 1% in comparison to topical Minoxidil 2% among patients with FPHL.
Overall, 60 women with this most common form of hair loss were randomized to either the topical Cetirizine 1% or topical Minoxidil 2% treatment groups. The study's outcome focused on changes in hair loss severity, terminal hair density and diameter, as determined through trichoscopic evaluation. An intention-to-treat analysis was also executed for individuals who completed a 3-month treatment.
Both treatment groups demonstrated enhancements in hair diameter and density following 6 months, with statistically meaningful results observed solely in the Minoxidil group. Per-protocol analysis revealed Minoxidil's superiority over Cetirizine in terms of hair density but not hair diameter. In addition, both Cetirizine and Minoxidil groups displayed substantial improvements in FPHL severity, as measured by hair loss severity scales, following 6 months of therapy.
The dropout rates because of adverse effects were 10.0% for the Cetirizine group and 6.6% for the Minoxidil group. While not as potent as topical Minoxidil, topical Cetirizine can yield positive therapeutic outcomes for FPHL, especially in situations where patients cannot use Minoxidil due to compatibility issues.
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
Therapeutic effects of topical Cetirizine in the treatment of female pattern hair loss: a randomized controlled noninferiority trial
Seyed Mohammad Kazem Alavi et al.
Comments (0)