Background: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is increasing ly common and often presents with hair shedding. Spec tral. DNC-N® contains anti-inflammatory actives and hair growth promoters.
Objectives: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of Spectral DNC-N® (DS Laboratories, Inc.) in women with early FPHL and excessive shedding.
Methods: Forty-nine patients were treated with Spectral DNC-N®, applied twice daily for 3 months; 28 patients were included in the 3-month treatment extension. Efficacy assessments included the degree of hair shedding using the validated hair shedding visual scale, hair mass index (HMI), and photographic evaluation.
Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in hair shedding and a corresponding increase in HMI by month 3, which was maintained through month 6. The mean investigator-assessed hair shedding score decreased from 3.5 to 2.0 and the hair mass increased from 75.8 to 84.3 mm>sup<2>/sup</cm>sup<2>/sup< by month 3 (both p < 0.01 compared with baseline). By month 6, the hair shedding score was reduced to 1.6 and the hair mass was maintained. Most patients (75%) showed an increase in global hair density.
Conclusions: Spectral. DNC-N® significantly reduced hair shedding, with a corresponding increase in hair mass and density. These effects were already evident after 3 months' treatment and further improved in those patients who continued treatment to month 6. Tolerability was good and patient satisfaction levels were high.
Keywords: Female pattern hair loss; Global photography; Hair growth promoters; Hair mass index; Hair shedding visual scale; Spectral. DNC-N®.