Commonly Used Over the Counter Therapies for Hair Growth in Skin of Color: An Evidenced-Based Review.

Abstract

Given the immense psychosocial effects of hair loss as well as patient preference for treatment type, it is common for patients to turn to alternative medicine to improve their conditions. However, the commonly used alternative treatments can vary greatly between patients and particularly among skin of color populations. In this work, we performed a scoping review of the evidence behind alternative topical treatments for hair loss used by skin of color patients. Methods & Materials: We conducted a comprehensive search using PubMed to identify relevant studies. Results show a diverse variety of hair growth products used; however, only a few are supported by randomized controlled trials, case reports, pilot studies, and animal studies with some important limitations. This information will be exceedingly useful for physicians so they may relay accurate evidence on these haircare practices to their skin of color patients. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(7):726-731. doi:10.36849/JDD.5689.