Direct-to-Consumer Teledermatology for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: Narrative Review

This narrative review explores the use of direct-to-consumer (DTC) teledermatology for treating male androgenetic alopecia (AA), highlighting its ability to improve access to care, ensure high adherence rates, and enhance patient satisfaction. The review includes studies involving thousands of patients, such as one with 2,904 participants in Germany and another with 8,983 in the United States, showing that DTC platforms can effectively reach untreated patients and achieve high treatment success, with 81% reporting hair regrowth or cessation of hair loss. However, the review also notes concerns about increased drug costs and the need for continuous monitoring of potential adverse events, such as sexual dysfunction associated with finasteride. Despite these drawbacks, the convenience and discretion offered by DTC platforms make them a promising option for AA treatment, though further studies on long-term care and safety are necessary.