An Open-Label Randomized Multicenter Study Assessing the Noninferiority of a Caffeine-Based Topical Liquid 0.2% versus Minoxidil 5% Solution in Male Androgenetic Alopecia

An Open-Label Randomized Multicenter Study Assessing the Noninferiority of a Caffeine-Based Topical Liquid 0.2% versus Minoxidil 5% Solution in Male Androgenetic Alopecia
Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2017 Oct 21
Dhurat R1, Chitallia J, May TW, Jayaraaman AM, Madhukara J, Anandan S, Vaidya P, Klenk A.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Androgenetic alopecia is a condition with a high prevalence worldwide and affects both males and females. Currently, only 2 approved treatments exist: finasteride (males only) and minoxidil 2 or 5% solution (males and females).

METHODS:
We conducted a randomized, open-label, multicenter noninferiority study to determine whether a caffeine-based 0.2% topical liquid would be no less effective than minoxidil 5% solution in males (n = 210) with androgenetic alopecia. The primary end point was the percentage change in the proportion of anagen hairs from baseline to 6 months using a frontal and occipital trichogram.

RESULTS:
At 6 months, the group of the 5% minoxidil solution showed a mean improvement in anagen ratio of the trichogram of 11.68%, and the group of the 0.2% caffeine solution had an anagen improvement of 10.59%. The difference of mean values between both groups was 1.09%. The statistical analysis was performed and reported in accordance with the CONSORT Guidelines 2010 for reporting of noninferiority and equivalence randomized trials.

CONCLUSION:
A caffeine-based topical liquid should be considered as not inferior to minoxidil 5% solution in men with androgenetic alopecia.


Full study: https://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/481141

Very interesting

some user at hairlosstalk forum regrow his hair by using caffeine shampoo with some other stuff ...i dont know can we just boil some coffee and wet our scalp with it or it is a different stuff

I just read some of the full study for the first time and it says that they used Alpecin liquid. Alpecin has other ingredients that I believe may assist with hair growth. Also it has alcohol which will act as a penetration enhancer.

long hair wrote:some user at hairlosstalk forum regrow his hair by using caffeine shampoo  with some other stuff ...i dont know can we just boil some coffee and wet our scalp with it or it is a different  stuff  

I tried various forms of this well over ten years ago. Making your own causes problems. They main one is that you'll get a caffeine headache if the amounts are just slightly off or if you forget to use it for one day.

The commercial form uses the smallest amount to get the results. Too much actually hinders results...So the dose is everything here.

I'm all for making your own stuff, however this is a special exception. Would buy the commercial product in this case.

I used to mix a bit of caffeine powder into my shampoo before applying it to my scalp. I can't say how well it worked as I was using a number of topicals and supplements. However based on this study I will likely try this again.

CausticSymmetry wrote:

long hair wrote:some user at hairlosstalk forum regrow his hair by using caffeine shampoo  with some other stuff ...i dont know can we just boil some coffee and wet our scalp with it or it is a different  stuff  

I tried various forms of this well over ten years ago. Making your own causes problems. They main one is that you'll get a caffeine headache if the amounts are just slightly off or if you forget to use it for one day.

The commercial form uses the smallest amount to get the results. Too much actually hinders results...So the dose is everything here.

I'm all for making your own stuff, however this is a special exception. Would buy the commercial product in this case.

ok thanks CS ..if this is the case i will keep away from topical coffee ..i may back to my black tea topical ,as i remember i had some minor result when i used it so i will try it along with DT.