5α-Reductase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

June 2001 in “ International Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology ”

Keith D. Kaufman

5α-reductase inhibitors finasteride androgenetic alopecia DHT hair growth oral pharmacological therapy Propecia

TLDR Finasteride improves hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia.

This document from 21 years ago explores the use of 5α-reductase inhibitors, specifically finasteride, in treating androgenetic alopecia in men. Studies showed that finasteride reduced scalp DHT levels and improved hair growth, with a dose of 1 mg/day established as optimal. Finasteride was found to be safe and effective, with minimal side effects. The document also discusses the limitations of current treatments for androgenetic alopecia and the need for safe and effective oral pharmacological therapy. Overall, the document concludes that 5α-reductase inhibitors are a promising treatment option for promoting hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia.

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research Changes in Hair Weight and Hair Count in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia After Treatment with Finasteride, 1 mg, Daily

66 citations , April 2002 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride increases hair weight and count in men with hair loss.

research Lack of Efficacy of Finasteride in Postmenopausal Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

239 citations , November 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride doesn't effectively treat hair loss in postmenopausal women.

research Finasteride Increases Anagen Hair in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

129 citations , October 2000 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Finasteride helps increase hair growth in men with hair loss.

research Improvement in Androgenetic Alopecia in 53-76-Year-Old Men Using Oral Finasteride

30 citations , December 1999 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Finasteride increases hair count in middle-aged and elderly men without causing sexual dysfunction.

research Measuring Reversal of Hair Miniaturization in Androgenetic Alopecia by Follicular Counts in Horizontal Sections of Serial Scalp Biopsies: Results of Finasteride 1mg Treatment of Men and Postmenopausal Women

145 citations , December 1999 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

Finasteride 1mg helps reverse hair miniaturization in men and postmenopausal women.

research The Effects of Finasteride on Scalp Skin and Serum Androgen Levels in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

65 citations , October 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride effectively reduces hair loss by decreasing androgen levels.

research Clinical Dose Ranging Studies with Finasteride, a Type 2 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, in Men with Male Pattern Hair Loss

46 citations , October 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride effectively treats male pattern hair loss with a 1 mg daily dose.

research Immunohistochemical Localization of Types 1 and 2 5α-Reductase in Human Scalp

100 citations , September 1999 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

The study found that two enzymes linked to hair loss are located in different parts of the scalp, supporting a common treatment's effectiveness.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Frontal Male Pattern Hair Loss

187 citations , June 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride effectively treats frontal hair loss with few side effects.

research Finasteride, a Type 2 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

32 citations , April 1999 in “Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs”

Finasteride effectively treats male hair loss, improving growth and density.

research Prevalence of Male Pattern Hair Loss in 18–49 Year Old Men

50 citations , December 1998 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

Hair loss is more common in men aged 18-49 and increases with age.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

581 citations , October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride safely and effectively treats male pattern hair loss, but may cause reversible sexual issues and harm male fetuses.

research The Effect of Finasteride on the Risk of Acute Urinary Retention and the Need for Surgical Treatment Among Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

1054 citations , February 1998 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Finasteride reduces urinary issues and surgery need in men with enlarged prostates by over 50%.

research Different Levels of 5α-Reductase Type I and II, Aromatase, and Androgen Receptor in Hair Follicles of Women and Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

416 citations , September 1997 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

People with hair loss have more androgen receptors and enzymes in certain follicles, with men and women showing different patterns.

research Androgen Metabolism as It Affects Hair Growth in Androgenetic Alopecia

143 citations , October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

Too much androgen can cause hair loss; finasteride may help.

research Effect of MK-386, a Novel Inhibitor of Type 1 5 Alpha-Reductase, Alone and in Combination with Finasteride, on Serum Dihydrotestosterone Concentrations in Men

6 citations , August 1996 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”

MK-386 and finasteride together effectively reduce DHT levels, potentially treating acne and male pattern baldness.

research Identification of Human Cytochrome P450 Isozymes Responsible for the In Vitro Oxidative Metabolism of Finasteride

20 citations , October 1995 in “PubMed”

research The Effect of Finasteride, a 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor, on Scalp Skin Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone Concentrations in Patients with Male Pattern Baldness

59 citations , September 1994 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”

Finasteride reduces scalp DHT levels, potentially treating male pattern baldness.

research Comparison of Finasteride (Proscar®) and Serenoa repens (Permixon®) in the Inhibition of 5-Alpha Reductase in Healthy Male Volunteers

73 citations , January 1994 in “European Urology”

Finasteride works better than Permixon in reducing dihydrotestosterone levels.

research Psychological effects of androgenetic alopecia on women: Comparisons with balding men and with female control subjects

222 citations , October 1993 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Hair loss affects women's mental health more than men's, causing anxiety, low self-esteem, and social insecurity.

research LY191704: a selective, nonsteroidal inhibitor of human steroid 5 alpha-reductase type 1.

53 citations , June 1993 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

LY191704 is a compound that effectively blocks a specific enzyme involved in hormone conversion and could help treat enlarged prostate and hair loss.

research Diagnostic and predictive value of horizontal sections of scalp biopsy specimens in male pattern androgenetic alopecia

309 citations , May 1993 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Horizontal scalp biopsy sections effectively diagnose and predict MPAA, with follicular density and inflammation impacting hair regrowth.

research Nonsteroidal inhibitors of human type I steroid 5-.alpha.-reductase

89 citations , February 1993 in “Journal of Medicinal Chemistry”

New compounds called benzoquinolinones may treat conditions linked to excess DHT.

research Comparison of finasteride (proscar®), a 5α reductase inhibitor, and various commercial plant extracts in in vitro and in vivo 5α reductase inhibition

124 citations , January 1993 in “The Prostate”

Finasteride effectively inhibits 5α reductase, while plant extracts like Permixon and Bazoton don't show significant results.

research Testosterone metabolism in the skin. A review of its function in androgenetic alopecia, acne vulgaris, and idiopathic hirsutism including recent studies with antiandrogens

43 citations , November 1975 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Testosterone affects hair loss, acne, and excessive hair growth, and antiandrogens can help treat these conditions.

research Growth of the Hair

521 citations , January 1954 in “Physiological Reviews”

Hair growth is cyclic and influenced mainly by local factors.