A pilot study on the use of complementary and alternative medicine for androgenetic alopecia

Background: Use of treatments categorized as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have increased considerably in the field of dermatology. However, most studies have been focused on atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, and little is known of the prevalence of use of CAM in patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Objective: We aimed to determine the frequency, type, duration, and factors associated with the use of CAM in the treatment of AGA at a dermatologic outpatient clinic. Methods: AGA patients at the outpatient clinic (n=151) received a face-to-face structured questionnaire covering 5 types of CAM plus an open alternative labeled 'other type'. Results: Overall 70.2% (106/151) of the subjects with AGA reported the current or previous use of at least 1 CAM. Topical application (85, 56.3%) was most frequently used, followed by diet therapy (35, 23.2%), health food supplements (15, 9.9%), massage therapy (13, 8.6%), and Oriental medicine (10, 6.6%). With respect to the reasons for using CAM, 'recommendation by people around the patient' (59.4%) was most commonly chosen by the patients. The subjective therapeutic effect and satisfaction with CAM were the best with health food supplements and topical application (80.0% and 21.1%, respectively). Conclusion: As our results indicate that the use of CAM continues to rise by patients with AGA, the need for reliable sources of information about specific CAM therapies becomes more essential. To assist AGA patients in selecting proper treatment modalities, further longitudinal and controlled studies are required to assess the efficacy and safety of CAM.