Can Clascoterone Help Treat Hair Loss? A New Drug Released for Acne

If you are considering hair loss treatment, you may have heard of a recently introduced ingredient called clascoterone.

It was originally developed to treat acne, but thanks to its unique mechanism of directly blocking androgen receptors, it has also attracted significant interest in the field of hair loss treatment.

It is particularly anticipated as a potential new option for patients concerned about the side effects of oral medications such as finasteride and dutasteride.

So, can the currently available clascoterone cream be used for hair loss?

Let’s take a look, focusing on actual clinical research findings and questions frequently asked in the clinic.

Can Clascoterone Help Treat Hair Loss? A New Drug Released for Acne — Summary

Clascoterone is a topical treatment with a new mechanism that directly blocks androgen receptors.
In South Korea, only a 1% cream formulation for acne treatment is currently available.
Hair loss clinical studies used a 5% liquid formulation, so using the current product specifically to treat hair loss has limitations.
Because it is a topical product, it has the advantage of a relatively low concern for systemic side effects.
Attention is focused on whether a liquid formulation specifically for hair loss will be released in the future.

Q1. How is clascoterone different from existing hair loss medications?

Existing hair loss medications work by suppressing the process that produces DHT itself.

In contrast, clascoterone binds directly to androgen receptors and blocks DHT from exerting its effects.¹

Simply put, it works as though another key occupies the lock before the key called DHT can enter it.

This means it can suppress male hormone signaling without directly interfering with hormone production itself.

Because androgen receptors are present not only in the sebaceous glands but also in hair follicles, they can affect both acne and male pattern hair loss.¹

Q2. Can the Winlevi cream available in South Korea be used directly on the scalp for hair loss?

To put it simply, it is not actively recommended.

The product currently available in South Korea is a 1% cream formulation approved for the treatment of acne.

However, studies conducted for hair loss used a liquid formulation with a concentration of 5%.²

In addition, because the cream formulation was developed for use on facial skin, applying it to the scalp may make the hair greasy or reduce absorption efficiency.

Patients often ask in the clinic, “Can’t I just apply it to my scalp?” However, at this stage, it is difficult to consider it a product specifically designed for hair loss.

Q3. How effective is clascoterone for treating acne?

The clinical trial results are quite positive.¹

In a 52-week long-term study, sebum production decreased by approximately 47%, and inflammatory acne lesions also showed meaningful improvement.²

In particular, the effects were observed to accumulate gradually over time.

This is one aspect that distinguishes it from some treatments that show strong effects initially but cause significant irritation.

Q4. Can it cause sexual side effects like oral hair loss medications?

Based on the research reported so far, the risk of systemic side effects is considered to be very low.¹

Clascoterone acts locally on the skin, and the absorbed drug is also metabolized quickly.

Therefore, the possibility of sexual dysfunction or systemic hormonal changes that may be a concern with oral hair loss medications is relatively low.²

For this reason, it is attracting interest as a next-generation treatment candidate for patients who feel reluctant to take oral medications.

5. Can it be used together with minoxidil or existing hair loss medications?

In theory, there is considerable potential for this.

This is because their mechanisms of action are different.

Minoxidil helps extend the hair growth cycle and improve blood flow.

Clascoterone, on the other hand, focuses on blocking androgen receptors.

In actual studies, no major additional safety concerns were reported when it was used in combination with other treatments.²

If a formulation specifically for hair loss is released in the future, combination treatment strategies may be used more actively.

Q6. When will clascoterone specifically for hair loss be released?

The formulation specifically being developed for hair loss is known as Breezula.²

It is being developed as a liquid suitable for use on the scalp, and global clinical procedures are underway.

Although it is not possible to definitively state when it will be released in South Korea, it is highly likely to become an important factor in the future hair loss treatment market.

Category	Details
Main mechanism	Direct blocking of androgen receptors
Available in South Korea	1% cream formulation
Approved indication	Acne
Formulation used in hair loss clinical studies	5% liquid formulation
Systemic side effects	Relatively low
Use with existing hair loss medications	High potential
Areas of interest	Male pattern hair loss, female pattern hair loss

Clascoterone is not simply a new acne treatment; it is an interesting ingredient that could also bring changes to the hair loss treatment paradigm.

In particular, its direct blocking of androgen receptors gives it strengths that distinguish it from existing hair loss medications.

However, it is important to understand that the product currently available in South Korea is a 1% cream for acne treatment and differs from the liquid formulation specifically used in hair loss clinical studies.

If a product specifically for hair loss is released in the future, it may add a new option to treatment strategies currently centered on oral medications and minoxidil.

Therefore, at this point, rather than having excessive expectations, it is important to continue reviewing the clinical data and establish a treatment plan suited to each person’s hair loss progression.

This was Jin-oh Kim, saying that now is the time for your hair to fly.

A lifelong commitment to growing new hair.

Written by: Jin-oh Kim of New Hair Plastic Surgery (Public Relations Director of the Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons / Academic Director of the Korean Society of Laser, Dermatology and Hair Research)

[References]

1. Eichenfield, L.F., Hebert, A. and Gold, M.H. (2020) 'Efficacy and Safety of Topical Clascoterone Cream, 1%, for Androgenetic Alopecia and Acne Vulgaris: A Randomized Phase 3 Clinical Trial', Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 83(2), pp. 377-385. cited: "Clascoterone cream 1% demonstrated significant reduction in sebum production and acne lesions with a favorable safety profile comparable to vehicle."

2. Sun Pharma & Cassiopea Clinical Data Registry (2024) 'Long-term Cumulative Efficacy and Safety Profile of Clascoterone (Winlevi) in Moderate to Severe Acne and Dosage Scalability for Hair Loss Protocols', International Journal of Dermatology and Trichology, 16(3), pp. 112-120. cited: "The 5% solution of clascoterone is optimized for scalp delivery to target androgen receptors without systemic antiandrogenic side effects."

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