Effectiveness and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

Yaguang Zhou, Shui Yu, Jimin Zhao, Xinyue Feng, Meinan Zhang, Zigang Zhao, Yaguang Zhou, Shui Yu, Jimin Zhao, Xinyue Feng, Meinan Zhang, Zigang Zhao

Abstract

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) represents the most frequent clinical complaint encountered by dermatologists and is characterized by a progressive miniaturization of the hair follicle. However, the efficacy and safety of current medical treatment remain limited, and more personalized therapeutic approaches for AGA are needed. Therefore, the present study is aimed at investigating the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) in patients with AGA.

Methods: 63 patients with AGA meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this study and treated with BTA injection or BTA injection combined with oral finasteride (FNS). In the scalp, 30 sites were injected with 100 U of BTA in each site and patients received BTA after every 3 months for a total of 4 times. Hair counts, head photographs, evaluation scores, and self-assessment were assessed in patients with AGA.

Results: Hair counts in both groups at all time points were significantly higher as compared with those before treatment. After 4 times of treatment, hair counts in the BTA+FNS group were higher than those in the BTA group. Hair growth and density were significantly augmented, and the area of hair loss was attenuated after each treatment as revealed by head photographs. The effective rates of BTA and BTA+FNS groups were 73.3% and 84.8%, respectively, following 4 times treatment.

Conclusion: BTA is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AGA without adverse effects, and BTA combined with FNS exhibited a superior therapeutic effect than BTA alone.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Copyright © 2020 Yaguang Zhou et al.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Clinical effectiveness between two groups at different time. BTA: botulinum toxin type A; BTA+FNS: botulinum toxin type A+finasteride.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Self-assessment evaluation of patients based on questionnaires. (a) Degree of improvement on symptoms of scalp oil secretion, pruritus, and dandruff. (b) Degree of improvement on reduction in hair loss. BTA: botulinum toxin type A; BTA+FNS: botulinum toxin type A+finasteride.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Evaluation of clinical effects on growth and density of hairs one month following the first treatment with BTA.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Evaluation of clinical effects on growth and density of hairs at forehead and temples following injection with BTA.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Evaluation of clinical effects from (a) a AGA patient with diffuse hair loss and (b) a female AGA patient on growth and density of hairs following treatment with BTA+FNS.

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