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. 2020 May 4;6(4):318-321.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.04.012. eCollection 2020 Sep.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of cow placenta extract lotion versus minoxidil 2% in the treatment of female pattern androgenetic alopecia

Tara Barat  1 , Fahimeh Abdollahimajd  1   2 , Sahar Dadkhahfar  1 , Hamideh Moravvej  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of cow placenta extract lotion versus minoxidil 2% in the treatment of female pattern androgenetic alopecia

Tara Barat et al. Int J Womens Dermatol. .

Abstract

Background: Placenta extract has been shown to improve androgenetic alopecia (AGA) by inducing the anagen phase and increasing hair follicle density and size.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cow placenta extract lotion compared with topical minoxidil 2% as a gold standard treatment for female pattern AGA.

Methods: In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, a total of 90 women with AGA were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either topical minoxidil 2% or cow placenta solutions. At the end of the sixth month, the number of hair follicles was evaluated using a trichoscope and compared with the baseline. Global photographic review was also conducted by a blinded dermatologist.

Results: By the end of the sixth month, there was an increase in total hair count in the specified area in both groups. The mean increase in hair count was 10.9 ± 5.74 and 10.2 ± 6.5 for minoxidil and cow placenta groups, respectively (p = .63). The percentage of patients who were rated as having moderate or marked growth was 44.2% and 32.2% in the cow placenta and minoxidil groups, respectively (p = .90).

Limitations: The study limitations were the limited number of cases, short duration of treatment, and the fact that none of our participants volunteered to undergo a biopsy to evaluate microscopic changes.

Conclusions: Cow placenta hair-tonic lotion can be as effective as minoxidil 2% for female pattern AGA.

Keywords: Androgenetic alopecia; Cow placenta; Hair growth; Minoxidil.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Trichoscopy (A) before and (B) after 24 weeks of treatment with cow placenta in a 45-year-old woman with androgenetic alopecia.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A 31-year-old woman treated with cow placenta, rated as having a moderate increase in hair growth (A) before and (B) after treatment.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A 67-year-old woman treated with cow placenta, rated as having a great increase in hair growth (A) before and (B) after treatment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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