Final answer:
Alopecia areata is treated with a variety of medications, with finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil being common for hair loss. Minoxidil is FDA approved and can promote hair regrowth, while topical and oral antifungals are used for fungal infections. Corticosteroid creams mainly address symptoms rather than causes of skin issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alopecia areata can be challenging to treat, and various medications have been utilized in the management of hair loss conditions, such as androgenic alopecia. The use of ketoconazole shampoo along with an oral 5α-reductase inhibitor, like finasteride or dutasteride, has been an off-label treatment approach to this condition, especially when hair loss is progressive. Over a 12 month period, these medications may be more effective together for further hair regrowth.
Additionally, combinations of finasteride, minoxidil, and ketoconazole can be more effective than when used individually. Minoxidil is a topical treatment that is specifically FDA approved in America for androgenic hair loss and can promote hair growth in both men and women; it has a success rate of about 40% for hair regrowth after 3 to 6 months. For antifungal conditions like tineas, antifungal treatments such as allylamine ointments, miconazole, and clotrimazole cream may be prescribed, whereas more severe fungal infections, such as cutaneous aspergillosis, can necessitate the use of medications like voriconazole or itraconazole.
Antihelminthic drugs like albendazole and praziquantel are used for neurocysticercosis with corticosteroids like dexamethasone being added to mitigate inflammation. Notably, corticosteroid creams, such as those containing hydrocortisone, can also reduce inflammation and relieve skin irritations but typically address the symptoms rather than underlying causes of skin conditions. While finasteride and dutasteride are used for male pattern baldness and show good results, spironolactone, which is used for female androgenic alopecia, may present certain side effects and is not recommended for use in men due to its feminizing tendencies.