A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Dermoscopic Features of Male Patients with Androgenic Alopecia Before and After Treatment

    January 2013 in “ Journal of Clinical Dermatology
    Liu Shui-fen
    From the encyclopedia
    Finasteride →

    Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

    Minoxidil →

    An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

    Studysummary This study observed that a combination of oral finasteride and topical minoxidil was effective in treating androgenic alopecia in males, with a treatment duration of at least three months being necessary for effectiveness.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    The study retrospectively analyzed 576 male patients with androgenic alopecia (AGA) to assess clinical and dermoscopic features and treatment efficacy. Most patients were young to middle-aged with mild to moderate hair loss, and 61.3% had a family history of AGA. Dermoscopic examination revealed that 87.5% of AGA patients had more than 20% hair diameter diversity (HDD), a significant diagnostic criterion, compared to only 3.4% of normal controls. The combination of oral finasteride and topical 5% minoxidil showed a total effective rate of 75.2%, with effectiveness increasing with treatment duration, particularly after 3 months. Dermoscopy proved valuable for early diagnosis and treatment evaluation.
    Discuss this study in the Community →