Comparative Study of Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil 5% and Combination of Topical Minoxidil 5%, Topical Azelaic Acid 1.5% and Topical Tretinoin 0.01% on the Basis of Dermoscopic Analysis in Androgenetic Alopecia

Background : Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) more commonly known as male pattern baldness affects up to 50% of men worldwide. Tretinoin prolongs anagen phase and increases percutaneous absorption of minoxidil three fold. Azelaic acid is an inhibitor of 5 alpha reductase and could be an effective agent in the treatment of androgen related pathology of human skin. Aims and Objective : 1) To study the efficacy of topical minoxidil 5% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia. 2) To study the efficacy of combination of topical minoxidil 5%, topical azelaic acid 1.5% and topical tretinoin 0.01% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia. 3) To compare the efficacy of foresaid topical preparation in treatment of androgenetic alopecia Setting: Outpatient department of Dermatology, Venerology Leprology of a tertiary health care centre with an attached medical college. Material and methods : Topical minoxidil 5 % lotion was used in 23 (50%) patients of the present study. Combination of topical minoxidil 5%, azelaic acid 1.5 % and tretinoin 0.01 % lotion was used in 23 (50 %) patients of the present study. Statistical analysis used : Epi info version 7. Results: There was statistically significant increase in hair number and thickness after treatment in both the groups. The comparison of the increase of hair number and thickness was statistically insignificant. Conclusions : Topical Minoxidil 5% is equally effective to combination of topical Minoxidil 5%, azelaic acid 1.5% and tretinoin 0.01% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia.