A double blind randomized controlled trial using topical application of travoprost 0.004% (40 µg/ml) vs placebo to induce hair growth among healthy male volunteers with androgenetic alopecia

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss affecting men. Prostaglandin analogues are a new class of antiglaucoma agents documented to have localized and possibly permanent hair growth OBJECTIVE:To obtain quantitative evidence of the hair-inducing properties of travoprost (0.004%) vs a placebo METHODS: Included are twenty healthy male subjects with male pattern baldness types III to VII based on the Hamilton Norwood Scale for pattern of hair loss. Participants applied the substances onto the test sites of the scalp twice daily. Baseline photos and bimonthly photographs were taken. Hair growth was evaluated during each follow-up in terms of hair density and hair type and manual hair count was done. Repeated measure analysis was performed with a level of significance set at 0.05RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment, there was no significant difference in total hair density between the travoprost and the placebo groups (p=0.49). No significant difference was demonstrated in the number of vellus, intermediate and terminal hair at different follow-up periods using travoprost and placebo(p=0.66, p=0.86, p=0.89)CONCLUSION: The use of topical travoprost 40 mg/ml did not induce statistically significant hair growth in the bald scalps of human subjects.