Over-the-Counter Hair Loss Treatments: Help or Hype?

This review of the current available OTC options is much appreciated in the December 2018 article by Bater and Rieder, however, most of the products mentioned have no current research or data in the past decade except for the supplements. In this field of alopecia, supplement data is expanding rapidly.

Over-the-Counter Hair Loss Treatments: Help or Hype?

Introduction: A limited number of treatments have been approved for androgenetic alopecia, however, myriad over-the-counter products for hair loss are available and readily purchased by consumers. This study aims to provide an overview of popular over-the-counter hair loss products and to review the available evidence regarding their use. Methods: Top-selling hair loss products were identified using sales data from the online retailer Amazon.com. The active ingredients, consumer ratings, quantity, and price were collected for each product. A search of the literature was conducted for ingredients that frequently appeared on the top-seller list. Results: Forty-two of the top 50 products met inclusion criteria, including orals (21.4%), topicals (35.7%), or shampoos/conditioners (42.9%). Common active ingredients included minoxidil, nutrients (ie, vitamins, minerals, proteins), and plant-based botanicals. 23.8% of products were FDA-approved treatments for androgenetic alopecia. Evidence for non-approved treatments is limited to small studies without generalizability. Discussion: While some over-the-counter treatments may be efficacious, more rigorous study is required. Dermatologists should be equipped to discuss the efficacy of these therapies as well as the risks and benefits associated with their use with patients. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(12):1317-1321.

A Clinical Review of Laser and Light Therapy for Nail Psoriasis and Onychomycosis.

BACKGROUND: There are considerable emerging data in the use of lasers and lights to treat onychomycosis and psoriasis of the nail subunit. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to review all of the medical literature on laser therapy of nail psoriasis and onychomycosis published since 1992. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a PubMed literature search using the search terms "nail," "laser therapy," "laser surgery," "light," with search terms "psoriasis" and "onychomycosis." In addition, we performed extensive MeSH and bibliographic searches as delineated in the manuscript. Because of the poor quality of evidence, we were not able to complete a quantitative review and thus present our findings qualitatively. RESULTS: Although the trials are small, PDL (595 nm) and IPL with a 550-nm filter demonstrate compelling data in treating nail psoriasis. Laser studies of onychomycosis fall short on many levels. Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers with very short pulse durations and fractionated CO2 demonstrate the most promise for the treatment of onychomycosis. CONCLUSION: The data for treating nail psoriasis and onychomycosis with laser and light therapy are rapidly emerging. With increased subject data, improved study methodology, and more precise output parameters, lasers may become an important modality in the treatment of nail psoriasis and onychomycosis.

An Approach to Cosmeceuticals.

The cosmeceutical industry is a multi-billion dollar, consumer-driven market. Products promise highly desirable anti-aging benefits, but are not subject to regulation. We present an introduction to cosmeceuticals for the general and cosmetic dermatologist, including definitions and explanations of key terms, an approach to the evidence base, a dissection of chamomile and green tea, two paradigmatic cosmeceutical products, and a window into the underlying psychology of this vast marketplace.