Hair loss is a common concern that affects millions of people worldwide, with androgenetic being the most common form. Finding an effective solution is often a frustrating process given there currently isn’t a single treatment that works for everyone. One novel treatment that’s getting a lot of attention is Breezula, a topical Clascoterone medication for androgenetic alopecia and other hair loss. In this article, we we’re going to do a deep dive into what Breezula is, how it works and compare it against existing hair loss treatments.
What is Breezula?
Breezula is a brand name for Clascoterone, a topical anti-androgen medication . It seeks to treat hair loss and comes hot on the heels of topical Clascoterone cream which was approved by the FDA for hormonal acne under the brand name Winlevi. Breezula Clascoterone seeks to specifically target androgenetic alopecia (better known as male or female pattern hair loss). Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss. It is mainly due to a genetic predisposition and the effects of androgen hormones. In terms of the latter, the powerful androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is most relevant to hair loss. It is derived from testosterone and binds to receptors in hair follicles. This causes them to shrink and eventually stop producing hair. This process leads to the characteristic hair thinning and receding seen in androgenetic alopecia. The main function of Breezula is to reduce the effect of DHT on hair follicles.
How Does Breezula Work?
The active ingredient in Breezula is Clascoterone which is an anti-androgen that works by blocking the effects of androgens, specifically DHT, in the scalp. Clascoterone effectively competes with DHT for binding to androgen receptors in the scalp, preventing DHT from exerting its hair-damaging effects.
Breezula is not available for use as it is still in the process of clinical trials, but the results so far seem promising. Phase II clinical trials showed that Clascoterone could significantly reduce androgenetic alopecia hair loss and promote new hair growth. Participants experienced an increase in hair count and improvements in scalp coverage, demonstrating its potential as a treatment for androgenetic alopecia. Unlike many other hair loss treatments, Clascoterone appears to work well for both men and women. This may potentially make Breezula a more versatile option for addressing androgenetic alopecia hair loss. Moreover, the topical application means fewer systemic side effects.
Breezula Clascoterone vs. Other Hair Loss Treatments
Currently, the most well-known licensed hair loss treatments are Minoxidil and Finasteride. Minoxidil, is a topical vasodilator that works by stimulating hair follicles and increasing blood flow to the scalp. While it is effective for some people, minoxidil does not address the underlying hormonal causes of hair loss. This limits its effectiveness in treating androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which is responsible for converting testosterone into DHT, thereby reducing DHT levels throughout the body. Unfortunately, oral Finasteride can cause unwanted side effects. These include decreased libido, sexual dysfunction and the controversial post-Finasteride syndrome.
Breezula, or Clascoterone, represents a different approach by directly inhibiting DHT’s effects on the scalp without altering hormone levels throughout the body. Unlike systemic anti-androgen treatments like oral Finasteride, Breezula is topical. This means that it acts directly at the site of hair loss, reducing the chances of systemic side effects.
When Will Breezula Get Approval for Hair Loss Treatment?
At the moment Breezula is still going through the clinical trial process. These seek to establish its safety, how effective it is and appropriate doage and formulation. Once these are completed it will then need review by governmental regulators such as the FDA (in the USA) and MHRA (in the UK) for approval and under what conditions the license will apply.
Breezula is a topical Clascoterone treatment that is showing great promise in clinical trials for androgenetic hair loss. This is because treatments that can directly tackle hormonal causes of hair loss directly at the scalp level, could prove more effective and safer. Whether or not Breezula Clascoterone receives FDA approval, there is clearly a demand for topical androgenetic hair loss treatments. This is likely to trigger greater research into this area to try and find more targeted hair loss treatments.
