A preliminary study of the effect of 11a-hydroxyprogesterone on the hair growth in men suffering from androgenetic alopecia.

Ten male patients suffering from androgenetic alopecia were treated during one year with a lotion containing 1% 11a-hydroxyprogesterone. Eight untreated patients served as control group. The parameters used were hair root status, hair shaft diameter of anagen hair roots and number of hairs with a diameter less than 40 micron. After therapy the cranial region showed an increase in the number and mean hair shaft diameter of anagen hair roots and in the number of hair roots with a diameter less than 40 micron. The number of hair roots in catagen/telogen decreased, the number of dysplastic/dystrophic hair roots remained unchanged. After therapy the cranial region in the controls showed a decrease in number and mean hair shaft diameter of anagen roots, and in the number of dysplastic/dystrophic hair roots. There was an increase in number of hair roots in catagen/telogen and of hair roots with a diameter less than 40 micron. The results warrant the conclusion that the above mentioned therapy would seem to be effective in men suffering from androgenetic alopecia.