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Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

1,886 questions in 74 reviews · Skin

current versions
No studies 542 · 28.7%Ungraded 130 · 6.9%Very low 326 · 17.3%Low 434 · 23%Moderate 348 · 18.5%High 106 · 5.6%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Minoxidil 2% vs minoxidil 5%
Proportion of participants with investigator‐rated clinically significant hair regrowth · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 586 participantsModerate
Minoxidil 2% vs minoxidil 5%
Change from baseline to study conclusion in total hair count · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 631 participantsLow
Minoxidil 2% vs minoxidil 5%
Degree of hair shedding from baseline to the end of the study ‐ not measured · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Minoxidil 2% vs minoxidil 5%
Cosmetic appearance of the hair or participant satisfaction · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 322 participantsModerate
Minoxidil 2% vs minoxidil 5%
Change in quality (or pattern) of hair regrowth (e.g. thickness) · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 322 participantsModerate
Finasteride vs placebo
The proportion of participants with self‐rated clinically significant hair regrowth at the end of the study · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.95 [0.66, 1.37]1 study · 137 participantsLow
Finasteride vs placebo
Change in quality of life ‐ not measured · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Finasteride vs placebo
Adverse events · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.03 [0.45, 2.34]1 study · 137 participantsLow
Minoxidil vs placebo
Change in quality of life · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 260 participantsLow
Finasteride vs placebo
Proportion of participants with investigator‐rated clinically significant hair regrowth · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.77 [0.31, 1.9]1 study · 137 participantsLow
Finasteride vs placebo
Change from baseline to study conclusion in total hair count · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 231 participantsLow
Finasteride vs placebo
Degree of hair shedding from baseline to the end of the study · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 137 participantsLow
Finasteride vs placebo
Cosmetic appearance of the hair or participant satisfaction · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.78 [0.4, 1.53]1 study · 137 participantsLow
Finasteride vs placebo
Change in quality (or pattern) of hair regrowth (e.g. thickness) ‐ not measured · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Low‐level laser comb vs sham device
Proportion of participants with self‐rated clinically significant hair regrowth · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 141 participantsModerate
Low‐level laser comb vs sham device
Change in quality of life ‐ not measured · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Low‐level laser comb vs sham device
Adverse events · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 141 participantsLow
Low‐level laser comb vs sham device
Participants with investigator‐rated clinically significant hair regrowth ‐ not measured · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Low‐level laser comb vs sham device
Change from baseline to study conclusion in total hair count · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 122 participantsLow
Minoxidil vs placebo
Adverse events · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.24 [0.82, 1.87]4 studies · 727 participantsLow
Low‐level laser comb vs sham device
Degree of hair shedding from baseline to the end of the study ‐ not measured · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Low‐level laser comb vs sham device
Cosmetic appearance of the hair or participant satisfaction · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 141 participantsModerate
Low‐level laser comb vs sham device
Change in quality (or pattern) of hair regrowth (e.g. thickness) ‐ not measured · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Minoxidil vs placebo
Proportion of participants with investigator‐rated clinically significant hair regrowth at the end of the study · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
RR 2.35 [1.68, 3.28]7 studies · 1181 participantsModerate
Minoxidil vs placebo
Change from baseline in total hair count · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted8 studies · 1242 participantsLow
Minoxidil vs placebo
Degree of hair shedding from baseline to the end of the study · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 380 participantsVery low
Minoxidil vs placebo
Cosmetic appearance of the hair or participant satisfaction · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 260 participantsLow
Minoxidil vs placebo
Change in quality (or pattern) of hair regrowth (e.g. thickness) · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 372 participantsLow
Minoxidil 2% vs minoxidil 5%
Proportion of participants with self‐rated clinically significant hair regrowth · women with FPHL
Interventions for female pattern hair loss (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 322 participantsLow
Light therapies (including photodynamic therapy) vs placebo, no treatment, topical treatment and other comparators
Participant's global assessment of improvement Non‐standardised scales · Mild, moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted23 studies · 1033 participantsVery low
MAL‐PDT vs red light only
Investigator's global assessment (IGA) of improvement Treatment 'success' as defined by IGA score decrease5 · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.74 [1.11, 2.74]3 studies · 360 participantsModerate
ALA‐PDT vs blue light only
Participant's global assessment of improvement Non‐standardised scale5 · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.87 [0.72, 1.04]1 study · 266 participantsLow
ALA‐PDT vs blue light only
Investigator‐assessed change in inflamed lesions (ILs) Lesion counts · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 266 participantsVery low
ALA‐PDT vs blue light only
Investigator‐assessed percentage change in ILs Lesion counts · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 266 participantsVery low
ALA‐PDT vs blue light only
Investigator‐assessed severe adverse effects Application site blister · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 266 participantsVery low
ALA‐PDT vs blue light only
Investigator's global assessment (IGA) of improvement Treatment 'success' as defined by IGA score decrease6 · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.81 [0.51, 1.29]1 study · 266 participantsLow
Light therapies (including photodynamic therapy) vs placebo, no treatment, topical treatment and other comparators
Investigator‐assessed change in lesion counts Lesion counts · Mild, moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted51 studies · 2242 participantsVery low
Light therapies (including photodynamic therapy) vs placebo, no treatment, topical treatment and other comparators
Investigator‐assessed severe adverse effects Blistering or scarring · Mild, moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted66 studies · 3945 participantsVery low
MAL‐PDT vs red light only
Paticipant's global assessment of improvement ‐ Not measured · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
MAL‐PDT vs red light only
Investigator‐assessed change in inflamed lesions (ILs) Lesion counts · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 360 participantsModerate
MAL‐PDT vs red light only
Investigator‐assessed change in non‐inflamed lesions (NILs) Lesion counts · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 360 participantsModerate
MAL‐PDT vs red light only
Investigator‐assessed percentage change in ILs Lesion counts · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 360 participantsModerate
MAL‐PDT vs red light only
Investigator‐assessed percentage change in NILs Lesion counts · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 360 participantsModerate
MAL‐PDT vs red light only
Investigator‐assessed severe adverse effects Application site blister · Moderate and severe acne vulgaris
Light therapies for acne (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 360 participantsModerate
Specific allergen immunotherapy vs no immunotherapy
Participant‐ or parent‐reported global assessment of disease severity · adults and children with atopic eczema and inhalant allergen sensitisation
Specific allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of atopic eczema (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 44 participantsLow
Specific allergen immunotherapy vs no immunotherapy
Participant‐ or parent‐reported specific symptoms of eczema · adults and children with atopic eczema and inhalant allergen sensitisation
Specific allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of atopic eczema (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 339 participantsVery low
Specific allergen immunotherapy vs no immunotherapy
Adverse events ‐ any systemic reaction · adults and children with atopic eczema and inhalant allergen sensitisation
Specific allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of atopic eczema (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.78 [0.41, 1.49]7 studies · 492 participantsModerate
Specific allergen immunotherapy vs no immunotherapy
Investigator‐ or physician‐rated global assessment of disease severity · adults and children with atopic eczema and inhalant allergen sensitisation
Specific allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of atopic eczema (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1.48 [1.16, 1.88]7 studies · 286 participantsVery low
Specific allergen immunotherapy vs no immunotherapy
Investigator‐ or physician‐rated eczema severity using a published scale · adults and children with atopic eczema and inhalant allergen sensitisation
Specific allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of atopic eczema (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 435 participantsVery low
Specific allergen immunotherapy vs no immunotherapy
Participant or parent‐rated eczema severity using a published scale · adults and children with atopic eczema and inhalant allergen sensitisation
Specific allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of atopic eczema (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 184 participantsLow