Topical adenosine increases the proportion of thick hair in Caucasian men with androgenetic alopecia

Abstract

Adenosine is an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in Japanese men and women. Adenosine exerts its effects by significantly increasing the proportion of thick hair. In this study, we assessed the clinical outcome of adenosine treatment for 6 months in 38 Caucasian men. The change in proportion of thick hair (≥60 μm) compared with baseline in the adenosine group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). The change in vellus hair proportion (<40 μm) was significantly lower in the adenosine group than that in the placebo group (P = 0.0154). The change in hair density compared with baseline of the adenosine group was also significantly higher compared with that of the placebo group (P = 0.0470). No adverse effects due to treatment were noted during this study by dermatological evaluation. Adenosine is effective in increasing the proportion of thick hair in Caucasian men with AGA as well as in Japanese men and women.

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of male‐pattern and female‐pattern hair loss, 2017 version

“…78 In an RCT involving 38 male subjects, with an observation period of 6 months, where a 0.75% adenosine-containing lotion was also used, the number of vellus hairs thinner than 40 lm in diameter significantly decreased (P = 0.0154), the number of thick hairs equal to or thicker than 60 lm in diameter significantly increased (P < 0.0001) and hair density significantly increased (P = 0.0470) in the adenosine-containing lotion group compared with the control group. 79 Moreover, in an RCT involving 94 male subjects, with an observation period of 6 months, where a 0.75% adenosinecontaining lotion and 5% minoxidil lotion were used, no significant difference was found in the thick hair ratio in the affected area between the two groups, suggesting that the efficacy of 0.75% adenosine-containing lotion, which is commercially available as a therapeutic agent for MPHL, is similar to 5% minoxidil lotion. 80 Second, with respect to FPHL, in an RCT involving 30 female subjects, with an observation period of 12 months, who used a 0.75% adenosine-containing lotion, a significant improvement was found in the growth rate of anagen hair and thick hair ratio in the adenosine-containing lotion group compared with the placebo group.…”

“…In an RCT involving 38 male subjects, with an observation period of 6 months, where a 0.75% adenosine‐containing lotion was also used, the number of vellus hairs thinner than 40 μm in diameter significantly decreased ( P = 0.0154), the number of thick hairs equal to or thicker than 60 μm in diameter significantly increased ( P < 0.0001) and hair density significantly increased ( P = 0.0470) in the adenosine‐containing lotion group compared with the control group …”

Efficacy of Off-Label Topical Treatments for the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review

“…Sixteen studies met inclusion criteria ( Figure 1) [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] . A total of 1,709 male participants were included with an average age of 40 years.…”

“…A total of 1,709 male participants were included with an average age of 40 years. Fourteen off-label topical therapies were investigated: a penta-peptide (Gly-Pro-Iie-Gly-Ser), adenosine, bimatoprost, Curcuma aeruginosa extract, dabao, fulvestrant, a herbal extract, latanoprost, a non-steroidal anabolic hormone gel, procyanidin oligomers, pyrithione zinc, roxithromycin, sodium valproate and viprostol (Tables 1-3) [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] . Treatment duration ranged from 4 weeks 23 to 52 weeks 21 with 24 weeks the most common duration (10/16 = 63%) 9,12,[15][16][17][18][19][21][22][23] .…”

“…Treatment duration ranged from 4 weeks 23 to 52 weeks 21 with 24 weeks the most common duration (10/16 = 63%) 9,12,[15][16][17][18][19][21][22][23] . Investigated therapies were administered in a wide array of formulations including cream (herbal extract 11 ), gel (non-steroidal anabolic hormones 18 ), lotion (adenosine, penta-peptide, dabao, roxithromycin [12][13][14]17 ), shampoo (pyrithione zinc 8 ), solution (bimatoprost 22-23 , latanoprost 9 , Curcuma aeruginosa extract 20 , fulvestrant 10 , procyanidin 16,21 , viprostal 19 ), and spray (sodium valproate 15 ).…”