Clinical Effect of Low Doses of Finasteride on Male Pattern Alopecia
January 2011
TLDR Low-dose finasteride effectively reduces hair loss in men with male pattern baldness.
The study evaluated the efficacy of low-dose oral finasteride in treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in 175 Chinese men aged 20-40 who had been taking 1mg daily for at least 2 years. Participants were randomized to receive either 5mg weekly or 1mg every other day, compared to a placebo, over 24 and 48 weeks. Results showed that after 24 weeks, the hair loss rates were 48.86% in the finasteride group versus 98.85% in the placebo group, and after 48 weeks, 73.86% versus 100%, respectively. These findings, supported by both micro-photographic review and patient self-assessment, indicated that low-dose finasteride was effective in maintaining hair and reducing hair loss in Chinese men with AGA.
