Topical all-trans-retinoic acid (tretinoin) alone and in combination with 0.5% minoxidil has been tested for the promotion of hair growth in 56 subjects with androgenetic alopecia. After 1 year, the combination of topical tretinoin with 0.5% minoxidil resulted in terminal hair regrowth in 66% of the subjects studied.
Abstract. Minoxidil enhances hair growth by prolonging the anagen phase and induces new hair growth in androgenetic alopecia (AGA), whereas retinol significantly improves scalp skin condition and promotes hair growth.
Tretinoin has been shown to promote and regulate cell proliferation and differentiation in the epithelium and may promote vascular proliferation. These factors are important for hair growth promotion. These preliminary results indicate that more work should be done on the role of retinoids in hair growth.
Is Tretinoin FDA Approved? Currently, topical tretinoin cream and gel are only FDA-approved for skincare and anti-aging uses but not for hair loss treatments. Because of this distinction, any use of topical and oral tretinoin for hair growth would be considered off-label.
Retinyl palmitate also strengthens the scalp by improving cell turnover, boosting collagen production to create the best conditions for hair to grow. At the same time, it can be used on sensitive scalps without irritation (we use a concentration of 0.5%).
Some bad news: the side effects of using retinol on your face go for your scalp, too. "You can experience sensitivity, redness, and irritation, which can make the situation worse resulting in hair loss or thinning," Dr. Green explains. "The same holds true with regards to sensitivity.
It's true that using retinol on your hair and scalp can potentially result in some unwanted side effects. Ironically, the most serious side effect of retinol that was reported on several years ago was actually hair loss.
"Retinol is used in anti-ageing, as it increases cell turnover. It may also enhance the effects of minoxidil (hair loss medication) on hair growth when mixed together." In other words, it could have some benefits for hair growth when combined with other ingredients.
Topical tretinoin usually doesn't cause side effects like hair loss, diarrhea, or weight loss, but it does irritate some people's skin. Even though tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative, it isn't stored in the liver, and it doesn't cause chronic liver disease that's often associated with excessive vitamin A intake.
A 2018 study, however, found that isotretinoin doesn't affect short-term hair growth. It also concluded that hair growth is only affected when people take very high doses of the drug.
It could potentially reduce DHT production.
As mentioned above, retinol reduces excess surface oil on the scalp and also on the follicles. In doing so, Dr. Shainhouse shares retinol “may help to reduce DHT production. DHT is associated with genetic-type male/female-patterned hair loss.”
These findings show that minoxidil increases hair diameter and density, whereas FGF increases hair and follicle density. Therefore, combination therapy is superior to monotherapies in terms of hair density, hair diameter, and follicular unit density.
For the purposes of skin care, tretinoin can be thought of as a more concentrated version of retinol. This means that tretinoin is stronger than retinol. This difference in strength can help guide your decision-making when it comes to choosing a skin care product. Your skin is affected by more than what you put on it.
“Topical retinoids, those used for anti-aging, may cause eyebrow hair loss,” Bossavy warns. That doesn't mean you need to give up your precious retinol products — just keep them off your arches. “Don't apply your retinoid to your eyebrow or the area immediately above, where it may migrate,” the pro suggests.
Tretinoin enhances minoxidil response in androgenetic alopecia patients by upregulating follicular sulfotransferase enzymes. Dermatol Ther. 2019 May;32(3):e12915.
"You can use tretinoin or [over-the-counter] retinols forever."
Retin-A contains the active ingredient, Tretinoin, a naturally occurring form of vitamin A. It works by speeding up the skin's metabolism to promote cellular turnover. It increases the production of elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizer in the skin.
If you stop using the medication or are inconsistent with your treatment, any improvements you see may disappear over time. Always use the product as prescribed by your healthcare provider (Rodan, 2016).
Minoxidil works by improving blood flow to the area in which it's applied. Apply it to your scalp and it can potentially improve hair density and increase the rate of growth. As such, there's no reason minoxidil shouldn't work for a receding hairline.
Minoxidil is the only drug which is FDA-approved to treat female pattern baldness. It works by prolonging the growth phase of the hair follicles, Yang says. It's recommended that women use minoxidil 2%, while men can use the 5% formula.
Retinol is found in numerous over-the-counter (OTC) skin care products. The difference between them is depth and speed! Retin-A penetrates immediately and into deeper layers of your skin to repair instantly. Retinol takes a while to penetrate and repair.
Tretinoin was shown to stimulate some hair regrowth in approximately 58% of the subjects studied.
Accutane has a number of possible side effects, some of which can contribute to the thinning of hair. Isotretinoin can affect the hair shafts and hair follicles, which can change the hair growth cycle and over time cause the hair to thin.
Both azathioprine and isotretinoin have been reported to cause hair to curl. This report describes an apparently synergistic effect on hair curling when the drugs are used together.