64 citations
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June 1995 in “Steroids” Inhibitors of the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase could potentially treat disorders like prostate cancer and baldness.
37 citations
,
April 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Some treatments like intralesional steroids and 5α-reductase inhibitors are effective for frontal fibrosing alopecia, but more research is needed.
20 citations
,
March 2017 in “Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology” Women with PCOS have higher 5α-reductase activity, which may be linked to insulin resistance.
research Acne
81 citations
,
January 2002 in “American journal of clinical dermatology” Hormonal treatments can help with acne, especially in women, by lowering androgen levels or blocking their effects.
51 citations
,
July 2013 in “Brain Research” Testosterone needs to be converted to DHT to reduce stress response in male rats.
6 citations
,
January 2003 in “PubMed” Finasteride reduces prostate size and symptoms with few side effects.
31 citations
,
January 1995 in “The American journal of medicine” Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone play a role in women's health issues like excess hair and baldness, and treatments blocking these hormones may help.
14 citations
,
April 2019 in “International Journal of Women's Health” Some treatments can stabilize Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, but more research is needed to find effective treatments, and hair transplants often fail.
3 citations
,
September 2016 in “Natural Product Communications” Germacrene analogs, especially 8-Hydroxy germacrene B, are more effective than germacrone at blocking a hormone-related enzyme and could help treat hair loss.
April 2026 in “Communications Biology” The development of breeding tubercles in male zebrafish relies on a specific enzyme that processes hormones.
January 2015 in “Side effects of drugs annual” The document concludes that sex hormones and related compounds have various effects on health, with both potential benefits and risks.
11 citations
,
August 2020 in “Diabetes” Testosterone helps human pancreatic cells increase insulin release.
8 citations
,
February 2010 in “Journal of Dermatology” A topical treatment safely and effectively reduced acne by causing targeted cell death in sebaceous glands without side effects.
42 citations
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March 2006 in “Drug Discovery Today: Therapeutic Strategies” The conclusion is that we need more effective hair loss treatments than the current ones, and these could include new drugs, gene and stem cell therapy, hormones, and scalp cooling, but they all need thorough safety testing.
80 citations
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January 1995 in “The American Journal of Medicine” Hair loss in androgenetic alopecia is caused by genetic factors and androgen excess, and can be treated with combined therapies.
14 citations
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November 2008 in “Expert opinion on drug metabolism & toxicology” Finasteride helps treat prostate issues and may prevent prostate cancer in high-risk men.
19 citations
,
May 1992 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Some alternative vitiligo treatments show promise, but none are as effective as psoralens and UVA.
4 citations
,
March 2020 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Plumbago zeylanica extract helps hair growth and reduces a hair loss-related enzyme.
16 citations
,
April 2017 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Ficus carica leaf extract may help treat skin disorders by reducing inflammation and androgen effects in skin cells.
February 2021 in “International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)” A higher testosterone/dihydrotestosterone ratio in PCOS patients may indicate worse metabolic health.
22 citations
,
January 2001 in “Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin” Some new progesterone derivatives are better at blocking testosterone conversion than a common drug.
13 citations
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January 2005 in “Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin” Smaller substituents at C-17 enhance the inhibitory activity of progesterone derivatives on 5alpha-reductase.
25 citations
,
November 2015 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” Certain Chinese herbs, especially Cacumen platycladi, can promote hair regrowth and reduce hair loss-related hormone levels in mice.
9 citations
,
August 2019 in “Clinical genitourinary cancer” Taking 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors before bladder removal surgery might make high-grade bladder tumors less aggressive.
15 citations
,
July 2016 in “Urologic Clinics of North America” Finasteride and dutasteride are effective for long-term treatment of enlarged prostates but have sexual side effects and a risk of high-grade prostate cancer.
2 citations
,
March 2018 in “Current Opinion in Urology” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can cause sexual, neurologic, endocrine, and cardiovascular side effects, but these are rare and usually stop after ending treatment.
December 2018 in “Actas urológicas españolas” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may have additional effects on cancer, mental health, heart health, and hormone levels beyond treating prostate enlargement.
44 citations
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July 2012 in “Endocrine Practice” We need to learn more about 5α-reductases and neuroactive steroids to safely make drugs targeting these enzymes.
32 citations
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May 2010 in “Pharmacopsychiatry” Finasteride reduces new brain cells in male mice, possibly causing depression.
63 citations
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December 2013 in “PLoS ONE” Finasteride may reduce prostate cancer spread by lowering certain enzyme levels.