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At the present time there are only two approved methods for treating androgenetic alopecia: finasteride (indicated for men only) and minoxidil (indicated for both men and women). A recent study examined the possibility that a caffeine-based 0.2% topical liquid might work as well as minoxidil 5% solution in men diagnosed 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.
Conclusion: A caffeine-based topical liquid should be considered as not inferior to minoxidil 5% solution in men with 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 Pharmacology and Physiology, 2017
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/481141
- 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%.
Conclusion: A caffeine-based topical liquid should be considered as not inferior to minoxidil 5% solution in men with 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 Pharmacology and Physiology, 2017
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/481141