Evaluation of a Therapeutic Alternative for Telogen Effluvium: A Pilot Study

Abstract

<p class="MsoNormal"> <b><span lang="EN-US">Background/Aim:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> Telogen effluvium (TE) is a scalp disorder characterized by the thinning or shedding of hair resulting from the early entry of hair in the telogen phase. <i>Nigella sativa</i> (NS) is a dicotyledonous belonging to the Ranunculacae family. It has been shown that its major constituent, tymoquinon (TQ), exerts anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators, such as cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin D2. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of NS essential oil as a potential treatment for TE, a pathology characterized by a significant inflammatory component. <b>Study Design/Methods:</b> Twenty patients affected by TE for this double-blind, placebo con</span><span lang="EN-US">trolled and randomized study were enrolled. Ten of these patients were treated with a scalp lotion containing 0.5% NS, daily for 3 months, while the other ten patients were treated with placebo daily for 3 months. Videodermatoscopic analysis (Trichoscan Dermoscope Fotofinder?) and evaluation of three independent dermatologists were performed before treatment (T0), after 3 months of treatment (T3) and at the 6 months follow-up (T6). <b>Results:</b> The results showed a significant improvement in 70% of patients treated with NS. Videodermatoscopic analysis showed a signif</span><span lang="EN-US">i</span><span lang="EN-US">cant increment of hair density and hair thickness in patients treated with NS. NS was also able to reduce the inflamma</span><span lang="EN-US">tion observed in the majority of patients affected by TE. <b>Conclusions:</b> The results of this study suggest that NS can be considered potentially useful for the treatment of TE.</span><span lang="EN-US"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span> </p

Multi-therapies in androgenetic alopecia: review and clinical experiences

“…Regarding this, we could consider the use of NS as a possible treatment for AGA. Our double‐blind, placebo controlled and randomized study in which ten patients affected by telogen effluvium were treated with 2 mL of topic formulation containing 0.5% NS essential oil, 3% glycerin, 0.4% lavender essential oil and 60% alcohol to 100 mL every day for 3 months, demonstrated NS efficacy by an improvement of hair density and hair thickness after 3 months of treatment and a reduction of inflammation observed in the majority of patients .…”

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“…A Significant increment of hair density and hair thickness was seen in Videodermatoscopic analysis in patients treated with Nigella sativa. It was also observed that Nigella sativa reduced the inflammation in the majority of patients affected by Telogen effluvium 39 .…”

Protective role of Nigella sativa in chemotherapy-induced alopecia

“…Studies showed promising results for the treatment of telogen effluvium. Moreover, it also improves the hair density and thickness within 3 months treatment (Rossi et al, 2016;Rossi et al, 2013).…”