Assessment of the effects of a hair lotion in women with acute telogen effluvium: a randomized controlled study

Background Telogen effluvium is a hair loss disorder occurring about 3 months after a triggering event. The acute form impairs quality of life, but spontaneous recovery usually begins 3-6 months after identification and elimination of the cause, with complete recovery taking around 12 months. Objectives To investigate the effectiveness and safety of a hair lotion containing creatine, acetyl tetrapeptide-2 and B vitamins for reducing hair loss in acute telogen effluvium. Methods In this open, randomized, controlled study (NCT04652232), women with acute telogen effluvium from two clinical centres were randomly allocated to receive either the lotion and a mild shampoo (intervention group), or the mild shampoo alone (controls). Hair growth parameters and hair loss were measured from phototrichograms at weeks (W) 1, 4, 8 and 16, and through investigator assessments of standardized photographs at W1 and W16. The primary criterion was the change in anagen to telogen (A/T) ratio between W1 and W16. Results One hundred women (aged 19-50 years) were included (intervention group, N = 51; controls, N = 49). Compared to baseline, the A/T ratio was higher at W16 in both groups and was significantly higher at both W4 and W8 in the intervention group, compared to only at W8 in controls. Significant decreases in telogen hair density were seen at all time points in the intervention group, compared to only at W16 in controls, and the between-group difference was significant at W8 (P = 0.0465). A larger reduction in the total number of hairs shed was observed at W8 in the intervention group (P = 0.0392). Investigator-assessed scores showed improvements in hair density for the intervention group. Global tolerance of the lotion was excellent. Conclusions The lotion tested had a significant impact on hair loss in women with acute telogen effluvium and appeared to accelerate recovery from this condition.