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 mm2/cm2 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, Hair shedding visual scale, Hair mass index, Global photography, Hair growth promoters, Spectral.DNC-N®
1.
Leavitt M: Understanding and management of female pattern alopecia. Facial Plast Surg 2008; 24: 414–427.
2.
Hadshiew IM, Foitzik K, Arck PC, Paus R: Burden of hair loss: stress and the underestimated psychosocial impact of telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia. J Invest Dermatol 2004; 123: 455–457.
3.
Arias-Santiago S, Gutiérrez-Salmerón MT, Castellote-Caballero L, Buendía-Eisman A, Naranjo-Sintes R: Androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular risk factors in men and women: a comparative study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2010; 63: 420–429.
4.
Yi SM, Son SW, Lee KG, Kim SH, Lee SK, Cho ER, Kim IH, Shin C: Gender-specific association of androgenetic alopecia with metabolic syndrome in a middle-aged Korean population. Br J Dermatol 2012; 167: 306–313.
5.
Blume-Peytavi U, Blumeyer A, Tosti A, Finner A, Marmol V, Trakatelli M, Reygagne P, Messenger A: S1 guideline for diagnostic evaluation in androgenetic alopecia in men, women and adolescents. Br J Dermatol 2011; 164: 5–15.
6.
MacDonald A, Clark C, Holmes S: Frontal fibrosing alopecia: a review of 60 cases. J Am Acad Dermatol 2012; 67: 955–961.
7.
Dinh QQ, Sinclair R: Female pattern hair loss: current treatment concepts. Clin Interv Aging 2007; 2: 189–199.
8.
Lucky AW, Piacquadio DJ, Ditre CM, Dunlap F, Kantor I, Pandya AG, Savin RC, Tharp MD: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 5% and 2% topical minoxidil solutions in the treatment of female pattern hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004; 50: 541–553.
9.
Kanti V, Messenger A, Dobos G, Reygagne P, Finner A, Blumeyer A, Trakatelli M, Tosti A, Del Marmol V, Piraccini BM, Nast A, Blume-Peytavi U: Evidence-based (S3) guideline for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women and in men – short version. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2018; 32: 11–22.
10.
Martinez-Velasco MA, Vazquez-Herrera NE, Maddy AJ, Asz-Sigall D, Tosti A: The hair shedding visual scale: a quick tool to assess hair loss in women. Dermatol Ther 2017; 7: 155–165.
11.
Cohen B: The cross-section trichometer: a new device for measuring hair quantity, hair loss, and hair growth. Dermatol Surg 2008; 34: 900–910.
© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel
2018
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.