Topical Latanoprost Acid for Female Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Proof-Of-Concept Trial With Mechanistic Evidence of Prostaglandin F2α Receptor Activation

This pilot proof-of-concept trial investigated the efficacy and safety of topical latanoprost acid for treating female androgenetic alopecia in 29 women. Participants were randomized to receive either a vehicle or varying concentrations of latanoprost acid (0.01%, 0.05%, or 0.1%) daily for 6 months. Results showed an increase in target-area hair count across all treatment groups, with no significant differences between them. Trichoscopic analyses indicated improvements in hair follicle characteristics, and the treatment was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that latanoprost acid activated FP receptor-linked signaling in human hair dermal papilla cells. These promising findings suggest that latanoprost acid may be effective for hair growth, but larger trials are needed to confirm these results and optimize dosing.