Background: One of the most common dermatological complaints among female is female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Serum vitamin D is a factor lately taken into consideration in approaching patients complaining of hair loss.
Aim: To evaluate the serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in patients with FPHL and to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D therapy alone or combined with minoxidil in the treatment of this disease.
Methods: 45 patients with FPHL and 15 controls to measure serum level of vitamin D were enrolled in the study. Patients then were subdivided into 3 groups: group I received topical minoxidil and oral vitamin D, group II received topical minoxidil, and group III received oral vitamin D for 6 months. Clinical and dermoscopic evaluation was done for the three groups before and after treatment.
Results: Vitamin D level was significantly decreased in patients compared to controls. After treatment, as regard Ludwig scale, there was statistically significant improvement in group I than II while no significant improvement was found in group III. Dermoscopy revealed that thin hair and single-hair unit were significantly improved in groups I and II, while it was not significantly improved in group III.
Conclusion: Oral vitamin D combination to topical minoxidil is recommended to treat patients with FPHL; they had better results than vitamin D or topical minoxidil alone.
Keywords: female pattern hair loss (FPHL); treatment; vitamin D.
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