Using Oral or Topical Spironolactone for Hair Loss

Table Of Content

• Spironolactone may interact with other medications
• Spironolactone for treatment of female pattern hair loss
• I want to get healthier
• The role of vitamins and minerals in hair health: Essential nutrients for strong and healthy hair
• For acne
• Spironolactone, Oral Tablet
• Possible Side Effects
• Drugs and supplements that increase potassium blood levels

Oral spironolactone may be an effective and safe treatment for hair loss, especially when combined with other therapies. Clinicians should consider the potential benefits and risks of this treatment option when managing patients with hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also known as male pattern baldness (MPB) or female pattern hair loss (FPHL), is the most common type of progressive hair loss condition. According to statistics, nearly 80% of men and half of women can be affected by AGA during their lifetime,1 and the anxiety of thinning hair may bring a significant negative impact on a patient’s physical and mental health. Spironolactone is an effective treatment for hair loss due to androgenic alopecia in women.

Spironolactone may interact with other medications

Hair loss can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, hair color, and type. Hair loss medication can encourage hair growth and make the hair feel and look thicker, although hair loss will return in many cases if a person stops treatment. Platelet-rich plasma is an autologous preparation of plasma with platelets, growth factors, and cytokines.

Spironolactone for treatment of female pattern hair loss

Limitations of this meta-analysis include the small sample size (413 patients) and the significant heterogeneity observed in the efficacy outcomes and adverse event rates. In addition, the heterogeneity in study designs, dosing regimen, duration, and how other agents are combined would limit the generalizability of the findings. Further studies with larger sample sizes and more rigorous study designs are needed to confirm these findings and determine the optimal dosing and duration of oral spironolactone treatment for hair loss. After removing duplicates and irrelative records, we screened the titles and abstracts of remaining studies and full text if necessary. Ultimately 7 records4−10−15 were enrolled for final analysis (Figure 1). The complete risk of bias assessment is shown in Figure 2 and Table 1.

I want to get healthier

If the doctor has questions, they will arrange an appointment to discuss the assessment. They can then prescribe a person with hair loss medication if necessary. A 3-month supply of oral finasteride costs $20 per month, and the same supply of topical minoxidil costs $16 per month. There are several telehealth companies offering hair loss medications. The table below compares each of the hair loss medications in this article.

The role of vitamins and minerals in hair health: Essential nutrients for strong and healthy hair

Lessening the production of androgens and decreasing other male sex hormones could result in a ‘softening’ of traditional male features. Spironolactone can also cause weight gain and reduce the growth of facial hair in males. If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This means that spironolactone slows down the production of androgens or testosterone hormones that are mainly responsible for hair loss.

For acne

This is because finasteride can get into sperm and harm a fetus. Finasteride can also pass through skin, so people who are pregnant or planning to conceive should not touch broken or crushed finasteride products. This is because the topical medication may come with a reduced risk of sexual dysfunction. However, the topical form may cause irritation, a burning sensation, or contact dermatitis at the treatment site. Another recent 2022 article states that some individuals may prefer using topical finasteride rather than the oral form.

Hair Loss and Clitoromegaly in a 32-Year-Old - Page 5 - Medscape Reference

Hair Loss and Clitoromegaly in a 32-Year-Old - Page 5.

Posted: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Spironolactone, Oral Tablet

Individuals must answer an online questionnaire indicating whether they have a receding hairline, thinning at the crown, overall hair loss, and more. According to the AAD, a person should take 1 finasteride pill every day. It works by binding to the 5-alpha reductase enzyme and stopping it from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). You may need to purchase a home blood pressure monitor to check your blood pressure at home. Despite this lack of research, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Possible Side Effects

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the current literature on the use of oral spironolactone in female pattern hair loss. Six studies4,10–13,15 reported spironolactone in combination with other therapies including topical or oral minoxidil, low-level laser light device, iron supplementation and other unspecified agents as AGA treatment for a total of 273 patients. 94.5% (258) of them were deemed effective after undergoing combination therapy. I went on it for moderate acne that came back with a vengeance after I had to come off the combined pill due to migraines with aura which I had been on for 10 years (whiteheads and cysts around my chin/jawline). After about 3-4 weeks it cleared it up my skin completely and I was completely clear for 4 months, then my skin started to break out again but not as bad as before.

I don’t over style or wash, don’t color too often, use silk hair tires and pillow cases etc. About 8 years ago, for 2 years straight I tried every different type of extension there is out there. Not long after taking the extensions out I ended up getting pregnant back to back with my 2 children. In a matter of roughly 2 years my head went from being thin and short with bald spots to 6 inches longer, thicker and the most beautiful it has ever been. I started Spironolactone two years ago due to my acne, and noticed in october that I had lost a lot of hair. I now have less than 50% of the hair that I had before starting on Spironolactone.

I still have my period but it was now coming twice a month (one light, one heavy) and I was getting cramps which I have not had in years. I've never had issues or irregularities with my period, it is always on time, every month. Individuals who cannot visit or do not feel comfortable consulting a physician in person can consider using a telehealth service to discuss their hair loss and get a prescription.

It’s been exactly 9 months since I stopped taking the medication and my hair is still falling out as much as ir was when I was taking it. New hairs are growing but they fall out when they get to a few Inches long. Doctors don’t take me seriously either they all say the drug should make hair grow more. I think if a drug can do one thing for some people it can do the opposite for others.

As far as we know, this is the first systematic review to report both oral and topical spironolactone applications in AGA therapy. Participants were first divided into 2 equal groups of female pattern hair loss (FPHL) and male pattern hair loss (MPHL). Those groups were then randomly divided into 2 groups, receiving either the minoxidil-spironolactone therapy or the minoxidil-finasteride therapy. Spironolactone hair growth success has been reported after using both oral and topical versions of the medication. This drug’s anti-androgenic properties make it an effective option when treating the hormonal component of androgenetic alopecia. When used under the guidance of a healthcare professional, it seems that spironolactone can be a great alternative to help reduce hair loss and promote regrowth in men and women with pattern hair loss.

This drug is used to reduce swelling from liver disease and nephrotic syndrome (a kidney problem). It’s also used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and hyperaldosteronism (excessive secretion of the hormone aldosterone). Hair density significantly improved in the minoxidil-spironolactone group (70% of patients) compared to the minoxidil-finasteride group (33.3%). No statistical difference was observed between the 2 groups in terms of hair thickness. Hair loss improved in 16 (53.3%) of patients in the minoxidil-spironolactone group compared to 2 (6.7%) of patients in the minoxidil-finasteride group.

While plenty of options are available, including shampoos, topicals, microneedling, acupuncture, and platelet-rich plasma injections, there's a new player on the scene—spironolactone. The exact dosage and combination of medication that your doctor suggests will depend on how severe your hair loss is and whether you take other medications for hair loss or other conditions. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that is characterized by “round patches of hair loss on the scalp,” although it can occur elsewhere on the body, Agbai says.

After about 3 months of continued hair loss, I now started finding large clumps in the shower and had overall thinning. I now have a much wider part that now goes down the entire back of my head. Two months in, my acne looks even worse, online doc (NURX) increases my dose to 150mg. At this point my scalp feels dry and my hair isn’t getting oily as fast - which was kind of nice because it’s always been very oily. Before ordering, a person must complete an online assessment for a doctor will review.