Treatment with oral vitamin D alone, topical minoxidil, or combination of both in patients with female pattern hair loss: A comparative clinical and dermoscopic study.

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.