Topical Cetirizine in Androgenetic Alopecia in Females

Summary

Cetirizine is a safe and selective, second-generation histamine H1 receptor antagonist, widely used in daily practice. A study showed that cetirizine causes a significant reduction in both the inflammatory cell infiltrate and PGD2 production. A pilot study on topical cetirizine showed that cetirizine increased total hair density, terminal hair density and diameter. Also, its lower potential side effects if compared with other drugs commonly used for AGA, as minoxidil, can promote a wider use and better compliance of cetirizine in the future for the treatment of AGA. Combinations of therapies are likely to be more efficacious than single treatments. Treatments to clinically improve scalp hair density and reduce mid-pattern thinning leading to improved scalp coverage are highly important for the affected women. On the basis of the above evidence and lacking studies that confirm the effectiveness of cetirizine in AGA treatment, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of topical cetirizine in female patients with AGA.

Timeline

Start

2020-07-25

Primary completion

2021-11-30

Completion

2021-11-30

Publications

• Background Jaworsky C, Kligman AM, Murphy GF. Characterization of inflammatory infiltrates in male pattern alopecia: implications for pathogenesis. Br J Dermatol. 1992 Sep;127(3):239-46. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1992.tb00121.x.
• Background Guo H, Gao WV, Endo H, McElwee KJ. Experimental and early investigational drugs for androgenetic alopecia. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2017 Aug;26(8):917-932. doi: 10.1080/13543784.2017.1353598. Epub 2017 Jul 12.
• Background Rossi A, Campo D, Fortuna MC, Garelli V, Pranteda G, De Vita G, Sorriso-Valvo L, Di Nunno D, Carlesimo M. A preliminary study on topical cetirizine in the therapeutic management of androgenetic alopecia. J Dermatolog Treat. 2018 Mar;29(2):149-151. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2017.1341610. Epub 2017 Jun 29.
• Bassiouny EA, El-Samanoudy SI, Abbassi MM, Nada HR, Farid SF. Comparison between topical cetirizine with minoxidil versus topical placebo with minoxidil in female androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arch Dermatol Res. 2023 Jul;315(5):1293-1304. doi: 10.1007/s00403-022-02512-2. Epub 2022 Dec 26.

Drugs

Indications