Spironolactone – For Female Hair Loss?

General Hair Loss

Spironolactone, sold mainly under the brand name Aldactone, has been around nearly half a century, what are it’s merits as a hair loss cure?

 

Spironolactone

Discovered in 1957 and introduced to market two years later Spironolactone is on the World Health Organisation’s List of Essential Medicines, recognising it as a safe and effective medicine but also it’s importance as a treatment. It belongs to a class of medications known as potassium sparing diuretics.

As an oral medication it plays an important function for a range of treatments. These include heart failure and kidney disease along with an impressive list of conditions that benefit from it’s ability to reduce the build-up of fluid.

Spironolactone For Hair Loss

A demonstration of the power of androgens (testoserone and DHT) on our dermatology can be seen in women with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS). These womem produce no sebum, nor do they ever develop acne. Nor do they have any hair, anywhere on their body.

Due to the anti-androgen properties of Spironolactone it has been used “off label” as a treatment for female hair loss, along with problematic skin conditions, where it has apparently achieved some success. Though it comes with a serious health warning. Anti-androgens are male specific teratogens… substances which can cause birth defects. So there is a risk that use of Spironolactone during pregnancy might feminize a male foetus. The good news is that the birth control pill can come to the rescue… not only does it prevent the possibility of a pregnancy but it is itself a functional anti-androgen – often prescribed by doctors to treat androgen dependent hair and skin problems. So the pill can protect you from the risk of pregnancy during treatment at the same time as augmenting the effectiveness of the Spironolactone.

HIS Hair Clinic

We would like to see more on the results, and it is important to remind everyone that this is only a proposition for women that are diagnosed with androgen related hair loss, which is a small fraction of the total number of women who suffer from female pattern hair loss. Just the same, always good to read more about a solution that has women in mind given the paucity of choice in terms of FDA approved medications.

If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts simply complete the contact form at the side of this page. Or click here to find your nearest clinic.

 

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