5‐Alpha reductase inhibitors in androgenetic alopecia: Shifting paradigms, current concepts, comparative efficacy, and safety
May 2020
in “Dermatologic Therapy”
TLDR Dutasteride works better than finasteride for hair loss, with both being safe to use.
This article discusses the use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) in treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a type of hair loss. The study found that dutasteride is more effective than finasteride in reversing miniaturization. The safety profile of both drugs is similar, with no major concerns regarding teratogenicity, fertility, sexual side effects, and neurotoxicity. The inhibitors play an integral role in the management of AGA.
View this study on onlinelibrary.wiley.com →
Cited in this study
research Low-level laser therapy and narrative review of other treatment modalities in androgenetic alopecia
LLLT is a safe, promising hair loss treatment, but more research needed.
research Can we halt male androgenetic alopecia progression without antiandrogenic drugs?
Only anti-androgenic drugs likely halt AGA progression.
research Topical ketoconazole for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A systematic review
Ketoconazole may help regrow hair and increase follicle size, but more research needed.
research Mechanism of androgenic alopecia: Addressing speculations through empirical evidences
Hair loss in men is mainly caused by hormones and genes, and while current treatments can slow it down, they can't fully stop it.
research Physiopathology and current treatments of androgenetic alopecia: Going beyond androgens and anti‐androgens
Hair loss treatments work better with lifestyle changes.
research Viable terminal scalp hair follicles constitute a necessary and sufficient biological end‐organ that conditions clinical efficacy of finasteride in males with male pattern hair loss without implying reversal of miniaturized follicles
Finasteride works for hair loss by maintaining existing hair follicles, not reversing miniaturization.
research Finasteride Use and Risk of Male Breast Cancer: A Case–Control Study Using Individual-Level Registry Data from Denmark, Finland, and Sweden
Finasteride use is not clearly linked to an increased risk of male breast cancer.
research Controversies in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: The history of finasteride
Finasteride effectively stops hair loss in most patients, but concerns about rare sexual side effects exist.
research The efficacy and safety of dutasteride compared with finasteride in treating men with androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Dutasteride more effectively treats hair loss than finasteride, but may increase risk of altered libido.
research Long-term (10-year) efficacy of finasteride in 523 Japanese men with androgenetic alopecia
research A liposome-based formulation containing equol, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and propionyl-l -carnitine to prevent and treat hair loss: A prospective investigation
The lotion with equol, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, and propionyl-l-carnitine was effective in reducing hair loss in men and women.
research Low-dose daily aspirin reduces topical minoxidil efficacy in androgenetic alopecia patients
Daily low-dose aspirin lowers minoxidil's effectiveness for hair loss treatment.
research Finasteride use during pregnancy and early neonatal outcome: a case report
Baby born healthy despite mom taking finasteride, but more research needed.
research Clinical efficacy of oral administration of finasteride at a dose of 2.5 mg/day in women with female pattern hair loss
Finasteride 2.5 mg/day can effectively treat female hair loss.
research Superiority of dutasteride over finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in men with androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled open-label, evaluator-blinded study
Dutasteride is more effective than finasteride at increasing hair count and reversing hair thinning in men with hair loss, but both have similar side effects.
research Multi-therapies in androgenetic alopecia: review and clinical experiences
Multiple treatments work best for hair loss.
research Combined treatment with oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: a randomized and comparative study in Chinese patients
Finasteride and minoxidil together work best for male hair loss.
research Effect of dutasteride 0.5 mg/d in men with androgenetic alopecia recalcitrant to finasteride
Dutasteride helps hair growth in those unresponsive to finasteride, but may cause more sexual dysfunction.
research A randomized, active- and placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of different doses of dutasteride versus placebo and finasteride in the treatment of male subjects with androgenetic alopecia
Dutasteride 0.5 mg works better than finasteride and placebo for increasing hair in men with hair loss.
research The Dark Side of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors' Therapy: Sexual Dysfunction, High Gleason Grade Prostate Cancer and Depression
5α-reductase inhibitors can cause sexual problems, higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer, and depression.
research Finasteride, 1 mg daily administration on male androgenetic alopecia in different age groups: 10-year follow-up
Finasteride effectively increases hair growth in men with AGA, works better for those over 30, and may cause some side effects.
research Finasteride 5mg and Sexual Side Effects: How Many of these are Related to a Nocebo Phenomenon?
Knowing about finasteride's sexual side effects increases reported dysfunction.
research The Effect of 5α-Reductase Inhibition with Dutasteride and Finasteride on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormones in Healthy Men
Dutasteride and finasteride may reduce sperm count and volume but don't affect movement or shape; effects are reversible after stopping.
research The importance of dual 5α-reductase inhibition in the treatment of male pattern hair loss: Results of a randomized placebo-controlled study of dutasteride versus finasteride
Dutasteride more effective for hair growth, but has more side effects than finasteride.
research Marked Suppression of Dihydrotestosterone in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Dutasteride, a Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibitor
Dutasteride more effectively lowers DHT levels in men with enlarged prostates than finasteride.
research Effects of in Utero Exposure to Finasteride on Androgen-Dependent Reproductive Development in the Male Rat
Exposure to finasteride in the womb caused lasting reproductive issues in male rats.
research Cutaneous Androgen Metabolism: Basic Research and Clinical Perspectives
Creating stronger blockers for skin enzymes might lead to better treatment for conditions like acne and excessive hair growth.
research Female pattern hair loss
Hair loss in women is genetic, diagnosed by examination and biopsy, and treated with minoxidil, finasteride, or transplantation.
research ANDROGEN METABOLISM AS IT AFFECTS HAIR GROWTH IN ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA
Too much androgen can cause hair loss; finasteride may help.
Related
research Four-amino acid segment in steroid 5 alpha-reductase 1 confers sensitivity to finasteride, a competitive inhibitor.
Four-amino acid part makes enzyme sensitive to finasteride.