Melatonin increases anagen hair rate in women
with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse alopecia: results of a pilot
randomized controlled trial.
Fischer TW, Burmeister G, Schmidt HW, Elsner P.
Department of Dermatology and Allergology
BACKGROUND: In addition to the well-known hormonal influences of
testosterone and dihydrotestosterone on the hair cycle, melatonin has
been reported to have a beneficial effect on hair growth in animals.
The
effect of melatonin on hair growth in humans has not been investigated
so far.
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether topically applied melatonin influences
anagen and telogen hair rate in women with androgenetic or diffuse hair
loss.
METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was
conducted in 40 women suffering from diffuse alopecia or androgenetic
alopecia.
A 0.1% melatonin or a placebo solution was applied on the
scalp once daily for 6 months and trichograms were performed to assess
anagen and telogen hair rate.
To monitor effects of treatment on
physiological melatonin levels, blood samples were taken over the whole
study period.
RESULTS: Melatonin led to a significantly increased anagen hair rate
in occipital hair in women with androgenetic hair loss compared with
placebo (n=12; P=0.012).
For frontal hair, melatonin gave a significant
increase in the group with diffuse alopecia (n=28; P=0.046).
The
occipital hair samples of patients with diffuse alopecia and the frontal
hair counts of those with androgenetic alopecia also showed an increase
of anagen hair, but differences were not significant.
Plasma melatonin
levels increased under treatment with melatonin, but did not exceed the
physiological night peak.
CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, this pilot study is the first
to show that topically applied melatonin might influence hair growth in
humans in vivo.
The mode of action is not known, but the effect might
result from an induction of anagen phase.
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