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How
can tretinoin be used to treat baldness
Tretinoin is short for "all-trans-retinoic acid". Tretinoin
is the generic name for a drug found in several products such as
Retin-A that comes as a cream, liquid, or gel from Ortho dermatological,
Renova (Ortho dermatological), and Vesanoid capsules (Roche Pharmaceuticals)
for oral use. The exact action of Tretinoin is unknown but it apparently
works to influence the proliferation, growth, and differentiation
of epithelial cells. Tretinoin is a FDA approved anti-acne medication
and widely available on prescription. It also has some effect on
removing fine skin wrinkles and roughness.
One small study has been published on the effects of a Tretinoin/Minoxidil
combination treatment or the use of tretinoin on its own. 0.025%
tretinoin was mixed with 0.5% minoxidil and topically applied daily
for one year. Of 36 volunteers taking the tretinoin/minoxidil combination
66% were reported to have some degree of hair growth response. Of
12 people taking tretinoin on its own 58% had some degree of hair
growth response. The response with the combination treatment was
better than just using tretinoin on its own. Tretinoin for androgenetic
alopecia has also been suggested by other dermatologists. Tretinoin
has been successfully used to treat a disease that involves hair
shaft defects called Netherton's syndrome and pseudo folliculitis
barbae.
Some dermatologists formulate their own treatments for androgenetic
alopecia. Tretinoin is often made in solution with minoxidil for
topical application. It is thought that tretinoin can increase the
absorption of minoxidil into the scalp. It may also help clear up
excessive oil and sebum production from the sebaceous glands attached
to the hair follicles. Individual dermatologists claim tretinoin
in conjunction with other drugs provides superior hair regrowth
when compared to the use of a single drug treatment.
The sebaceous glands are areas of high 5 alpha reductase activity.
Reduction of sebaceous gland activity using tretinoin may also help
reduce 5 alpha reductase activity in the conversion of testosterone
to dihydrotestosterone.
How tretinoin might directly act on hair follicles is not known
but dermal papilla cells are known to have receptors for retinoic
acid and so are potentially responsive to tretinoin.
How
can tretinoin be used to treat baldness references
- Bazzano
GS, Terezakis N, Galen W. Topical tretinoin for hair growth promotion.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986 Oct;15(4 Pt 2):880-3, 890-3.
- Rand
S. Hair growth therapy(ies) for androgenetic alopecia. Arch Dermatol.
1996 Jun;132(6):714-5.
- Hausser
I, Anton-Lamprecht I, Hartschuh W, Petzoldt D. Netherton's syndrome:
ultrastructure of the active lesion under retinoid therapy. Arch
Dermatol Res. 1989;281(3):165-72.
- Brown
LA Jr. Pathogenesis and treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae.
Cutis. 1983 Oct;32(4):373-5.
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