Cyproterone acetate against baldness?

Cyproterone acetate is a novelty in terms of hair loss treatment. The active ingredient acts similarly to how dihydrotestosterone lea with cytosolic receptors, inhibiting the miniaturizing action of DHT.

Recommended concentrations for use are between 0.5 and 1%. In men, topical use is recommended, while women can also ingest the active ingredient orally via capsules.

What is cyproterone acetate

Androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of hair loss or baldness, is a very common phenomenon especially in men. In this field, researchers around the world are always looking for new treatments that can benefit patients in terms of results and timing.

Among the latest curative novelties appears cyproterone acetate, an active ingredient from the steroid family. The precise mechanism of operation of cyproterone is related to its affinity to DHT, the hormone derived from testosterone that causes androgenetic baldness.

Specifically, cyproterone competes with DHT in binding to those receptors in the hair bulbs that, in its absence, would be miniaturized by the very action of DHT, ultimately causing fall.

Mode of taking cyproterone

For the intake of the product in questionin men, it is recommended to use the topical form with concentrations below 1%. The rationale is related to the fact that it would cause significant side effects if ingested orally in male patients. In female patients, on the other hand, both topical application and oral intake are possible.

Regarding efficacy in blocking the action of DHT, the use of cyproterone acetate together with progesterone is often recommended. The latter substance has a similar behavior to cyproterone with respect to DHT: it competes with testosterone through an inhibition of the enzyme from which it originates, known as 5-alpha-reductase.

The combined use of cyproterone and progesterone allows a double action aimed at inhibiting the process that leads to androgenetic alopecia. For a more in-depth look at this topic, follow the link.

Information for patients

Before undergoing cyproterone acetate-based therapy, the advice of an tricologist with expertise in this area is strongly recommended. In fact, you need to be aware of all the warnings and side effects related to the use of the active ingredient in question.

For example, if you exceed the maximum dosage of 25 mg per day for a certain period of time, you risk the development of meningioma.

Alternatives to cyproterone acetate

The active ingredient considered is not frequently used nor is the commercially available free drugs widespread. The reasons are related to the limited number of uses and contextually also to the potential side effects.

However, there are numerous other avenues that can be pursued in case one suffers from hair loss, even in the case of female alopecia.

First, one should mention pharmacological treatments based on active ingredients such as minoxidil and finasteride that have a long history of efficacy on patients from all over the world.

An alternative always available to the patient is also the hair transplant. In the latter case, it is a surgery aimed at redistributing hair in the scalp with the goal of resolving the problem of baldness permanently.