Trial reportSkin pharmacology and physiology2017
An Open-Label Randomized Multicenter Study Assessing the Noninferiority of a Caffeine-Based Topical Liquid 0.2% versus Minoxidil 5% Solution in Male Androgenetic Alopecia.
Trial report in Skin pharmacology and physiology, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 53 citations in OpenAlex.
- The effects of caffeine and adenosine on the microbiome and lipidome of the scalp.International journal of cosmetic science · 2025Trial
- Beyond the Follicle: A Narrative Review on How Systemic Diseases and Drugs Affect Alopecia.Pharmaceutical medicine · 2026Review
- Caffeine as an Active Ingredient in Cosmetic Preparations Against Hair Loss: A Systematic Review of Available Clinical Evidence.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Review
- Caffeine as an Active Molecule in Cosmetic Products for Hair Loss: Its Mechanisms of Action in the Context of Hair Physiology and Pathology.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Androgenetic Alopecia: An Update on Pathogenesis and Pharmacological Treatment.Drug design, development and therapy · 2025Review
- Advances in Topical Therapies for Clinically Relevant and Prevalent Forms of Alopecia.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Complementary and alternative supplements: a review of dermatologic effectiveness for androgenetic alopecia.Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) · 2024Review
- Comparing Current Therapeutic Modalities of Androgenic Alopecia: A Literature Review of Clinical Trials.Cureus · 2023Review
- Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapy Update.Drugs · 2023Review
- Role and Mechanisms of Phytochemicals in Hair Growth and Health.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- 5-Bromo-3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde Promotes Hair Growth through Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin and Autophagy Pathways and Inhibition of TGF-β Pathways in Dermal Papilla Cells.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia: Efficacy, side effects, compliance, financial considerations, and ethics.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2021Review
- Protective Role of Nutritional Plants Containing Flavonoids in Hair Follicle Disruption: A Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2020Review
- Transepidermal UV radiation of scalp skin ex vivo induces hair follicle damage that is alleviated by the topical treatment with caffeine.International journal of cosmetic science · 2019Article
- Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Alopecia: A Comprehensive Review.Skin appendage disorders · 2019Review
- Preparation and evaluation of hair growth promoting effect of transferosomes containing red clover extract and caffeine alone or in combination.Avicenna journal of phytomedicineArticle
- Caffeine in Skincare: Its Role in Skin Cancer, Sun Protection, and Cosmetics.Indian journal of dermatologyArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAndrogenetic alopecia is a condition with a high prevalence worldwide and affects both males and females. Currently, only 2 approved treatments exist: finasteride (males only) and minoxidil 2 or 5% solution (males and females).
methodsWe conducted a randomized, open-label, multicenter noninferiority study to determine whether a caffeine-based 0.2% topical liquid would be no less effective than minoxidil 5% solution in males (n = 210) with androgenetic alopecia. The primary end point was the percentage change in the proportion of anagen hairs from baseline to 6 months using a frontal and occipital trichogram.
resultsAt 6 months, the group of the 5% minoxidil solution showed a mean improvement in anagen ratio of the trichogram of 11.68%, and the group of the 0.2% caffeine solution had an anagen improvement of 10.59%. The difference of mean values between both groups was 1.09%. The statistical analysis was performed and reported in accordance with the CONSORT Guidelines 2010 for reporting of noninferiority and equivalence randomized trials.
conclusionA caffeine-based topical liquid should be considered as not inferior to minoxidil 5% solution in men with androgenetic alopecia.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.