Bicalutamide may reduce minoxidil-induced hypertrichosis in female pattern hair loss: Study

Australia: A recent study has in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology has suggested that the addition of bicalutamide to oral minoxidil may improve minoxidil–induced hypertrichosis. 

The combination of low-dose systemic minoxidil with antiandrogen therapy has been used for the treatment of female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Although minoxidil is shown to have a favorable safety profile, hypertrichosis occurs in up to 24% of patients. Bicalutamide is a pure, non-steroidal androgen receptor inhibitor that has been successfully used for FPHL treatment. Low-dose bicalutamide (25mg/daily) has also been used to treat moderate to severe hirsutism with significant efficacy.

Against the above background, Anthony Moussa, Sinclair Dermatology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and colleagues aimed to determine whether oral bicalutamide decreases the risk of minoxidil-induced hypertrichosis.

For this purpose, the researchers retrospectively reviewed the records of all FPHL patients at their institution with minoxidil-induced hypertrichosis that was concurrently treated with oral bicalutamide between May 2016 and May 2021. Those treated with laser hair removal, electrolysis, depilatory creams, or concomitant drugs with antiandrogen potential (eg, drospirenone, spironolactone, finasteride, or dutasteride) were excluded from the review.

Using a clinician assessment, review of photography and subjective reporting by patients, improvement in hypertrichosis was determined. 

"Oral bicalutamide appears to be beneficial in mitigating hypertrichosis caused by minoxidil in FPHL patients," wrote the authors. "Daily bicalutamide (mean dose, 14.4 mg) both reduced hypertrichosis and permitted an increase in the mean dosing of minoxidil by 0.7 mg/day without further hypertrichosis."

Reference:

The research titled, "Bicalutamide improves minoxidil-induced hypertrichosis in female pattern hair loss: A retrospective review of 35 patients," is published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

DOI: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(21)02738-9/fulltext