[Drug treatment of alopecia].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Alopecia is the term used to describe hairless areas of the scalp. They can follow a specific pattern, be diffuse or circumscript. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) follows a pattern: in men thinning of temples and vertex up to total baldness; in women thinning of the midline or parietal area.

CAUSES:

Lack of iron or cytostatic drugs cause diffuse alopecia, while in autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata or lichen planus bizarre shapes of hairless areas are observed.

TREATMENT:

For therapy, the following medications are used: topical minoxidil solution for AGA of men and women; systemic finasteride 1 mg for men with AGA; topical diphencyprone immunotherapy for alopecia areata; systemic antimycotic agents for tinea capitis; antibiotics such as clindamycin and rifampicin for folliculitis decalvans; systemic corticosteroids and isotretinoin for folliculitis et perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens; topical corticosteroids for lichen planus and Kossard's frontal fibrosing alopecia.

• Authors: H Wolff
• Journal: Der Internist (Internist (Berl)) Vol. 56 Issue 10 Pg. 1196-208 (Oct 2015) ISSN: 1432-1289 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Arzneimitteltherapie der Alopezien.
• PMID: 26383761 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones
• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Cyclopropanes
• Finasteride
• Minoxidil
• diphenylcyclopropenone

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adrenal Cortex Hormones (administration & dosage)
• Alopecia (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage)
• Cyclopropanes (administration & dosage)
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Finasteride (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Minoxidil (administration & dosage)
• Treatment Outcome