A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study to assess the efficacy of a 24-week topical treatment by latanoprost 0.1% on hair growth and pigmentation in healthy volunteers with androgenetic alopecia

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Aug 27.
A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study to assess the efficacy of a 24-week topical treatment by latanoprost 0.1% on hair growth and pigmentation in healthy volunteers with androgenetic alopecia.
Blume-Peytavi U, Lönnfors S, Hillmann K, Bartels NG.

Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

BACKGROUND:
Latanoprost is a prostaglandin analogue used to treat glaucoma. It can cause adverse effects, such as iridial and periocular hyperpigmentation, and eyelash changes including pigmentation and increased thickness, length, and number. Latanoprost has been used to treat eyelash alopecia, but knowledge on its effects on human scalp hair growth is not available.

OBJECTIVE:
The primary objectives were to assess the efficacy of latanoprost on hair growth and pigmentation. The secondary objectives were to assess the effect on scalp pigmentation; investigate the treatment duration needed to affect hair growth, hair pigmentation, and scalp pigmentation; and assess safety of latanoprost.

METHODS:
Sixteen men with mild androgenetic alopecia (Hamilton II-III) were included. Latanoprost 0.1% and placebo were applied daily for 24 weeks on two minizones on the scalp. Measurements on hair growth, density, diameter, pigmentation, and anagen/telogen ratio were performed throughout the study.

RESULTS:
At 24 weeks, an increased hair density on the latanoprost-treated site was observed compared with baseline (n = 16, P < .001) and placebo-treated site (P = .0004).

LIMITATIONS:
Only young men with mild androgenetic alopecia were included. The results may not be applicable to other patient groups. Choice of investigational site may have affected the results.

CONCLUSIONS:
Latanoprost significantly increased hair density (terminal and vellus hairs) at 24 weeks compared with baseline and the placebo-treated area. Latanoprost could be useful in stimulating hair follicle activity and treating hair loss.

How do you get this in a topical? Is it safe?

Closely related:
https://immortalhair.forumotion.com/t6138-glaucoma-medication-causes-hair-regrowth?highlight=glaucoma

Another older post on it:

https://immortalhair.forumotion.com/t590-bimatoprost

As a side note, a by product of urine can reduce glaucoma, more info on this here:

http://www.immortalhair.org/apps/blog/show/1835795-prevent-blindness-age-related-vision-loss-part-3

This whole thing with hair loss in my opinion is a combination of thyroid and adrenal balance.

I work in a pharmacy. This stuff flies off the shelf. Not for hair growth though Interesting article. Thanks CS.

Is this like minoxidil when you stop applying the topical you loose what you gained you're back to baseline?

The effects last longer than those of minoxidil.

...In reviewing the records and photographs of 89 glaucoma patients with hypertrichosis following unilateral treatment with topical latanoprost, he found five patients who had been treated for only a brief interval (less than 3 weeks) who showed increased number, length, thickness, and pigmentation of lashes similar to others who had undergone sustained treatment. Furthermore, these changes persisted in varying degrees for up to 14 months, the duration of the followup interval.

I think the problem will be the same as with minox: it doesnt interferes with the basic mechanism of hairloss, it only set ups some kind of 'extra' baseline.

How do we get this? and is it safe?

abc123 wrote:How do you get this in a topical? Is it safe?

It comes ready in an eyedrop solution for people with glaucoma. I belive the medication is called Xalatan.

My father has glaucoma and uses it. I can probably get a bottle from him and try it out.

How would I use it though?

I think the problem will be the same as with minox: it doesnt interferes with the basic mechanism of hairloss, it only set ups some kind of 'extra' baseline.

I don't think there's an atomic solution to hair loss because hair loss is a multifactorial problem. So anything in your regimen that pushes you in the right direction (ie., keeps hair follicles in anagen phase) contributes to success. There are probably thousands of things that can do this, some more effectively than others.

How do we get this? and is it safe?

There's no way to know for sure. But latanaprost is an analog of a certain prostaglandin, and prostaglandins are enzymatically derived from fatty acids. So it seems like it's at least "natural" in some sense. Whatever 'natural' means nowadays, lol.

Latanoprost 0.1% and placebo were applied daily for 24 weeks on two minizones on the scalp.

So I guess once a day in the area you want results. My only problem, other than curiosities about the discoloration for people without dark hair, is that latanoprost used for glaucoma is .005%. People do see results with their eyelashes at that percent but I'm not crazy about trying it for six months at 1/20 the strength to find underwhelming results.