Topical adenosine increases the proportion of thick hair in Caucasian men with androgenetic alopecia

Abstract Adenosine is an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia ( AGA ) in Japanese men and women. Adenosine exerts its effects by significantly increasing the proportion of thick hair. In this study, we assessed the clinical outcome of adenosine treatment for 6 months in 38 Caucasian men. The change in proportion of thick hair (≥60 μm) compared with baseline in the adenosine group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group ( P < 0.0001). The change in vellus hair proportion (<40 μm) was significantly lower in the adenosine group than that in the placebo group ( P = 0.0154). The change in hair density compared with baseline of the adenosine group was also significantly higher compared with that of the placebo group ( P = 0.0470). No adverse effects due to treatment were noted during this study by dermatological evaluation. Adenosine is effective in increasing the proportion of thick hair in Caucasian men with AGA as well as in Japanese men and women.