A natural product that accelerates hair growth in women with chemotherapy-induced alopecia

Abstract

Background Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is an adverse effect with a negative impact on quality of life, particularly in women. A lotion containing Larrea divaricata and Coffea arabica extracts to induce hair growth is commercially available in Argentina. The objective of this work was to evaluate the capacity of the lotion, to accelerate post-chemotherapy hair growth in women. Methods Design: A prospective controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed. Clinical Trial Registration No.: CEICYT-UAI, protocol no. 0-1026- 26/12/2017. Setting: Hospital Austral, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Participants: female patients, with ages ranging from 35 to 75 years, with diagnosis of cancer who had received the last chemotherapy cycle with drugs that cause alopecia four weeks before recruitment Measurements: The lotion or placebo were applied once a day and photographs of the lateral, occipital and coronary views were taken to determine the percentage of hair coverage at day 0, 30, 60 and 90. ResultsAfter 30 days the lotion increased 613% hair growth (p<0.05) and speed of hair appearance. The time elapsed from the initial visit to the time of appearance of a normal amount hair, was 57 ± 10 days for control patients and 39 ± 5.8 days for patients treated with lotion. No adverse events were observed. Conclusions: Results support the use of the lotion as a safe and affordable treatment that can accelerate hair growth in women with CIA.