Effects of Finasteride on Apoptosis and Regulation of the Human Hair Cycle

January 2002 in “ Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery ”

Marty E. Sawaya, Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, Diane L. Mullins, Bernard P. Nusbaum, David A. Whiting, Donald W. Nicholson, George Lotocki, Robert E. Keane

finasteride apoptosis human hair cycle anagen phase androgenetic alopecia hair follicle antiapoptotic strategies Propecia hair growth hair loss hair cycle

Studysummary This study suggests that finasteride may affect hair follicle growth by altering the expression of caspases and XIAP, potentially regulating the anagen phase of hair growth. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This study from 21 years ago investigated the effects of finasteride on apoptosis and regulation of the human hair cycle. The researchers found that finasteride can influence the expression of key parameters of the apoptotic signaling pathways in discrete regions of the hair follicle, thus signaling anagen, active growth in the hair cycle. The study suggests that finasteride may be useful in antiapoptotic strategies for successful treatment of hair diseases, such as androgenetic alopecia. The drug can decrease the rate of apoptosis in hair follicles, which can lead to increased hair growth, and prolong the anagen phase of the hair cycle.

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Research cited in this study

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research Analysis of Apoptotic Cell Death in Human Hair Follicles In Vivo and In Vitro

140 citations , December 1998 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Apoptosis in hair follicles varies by growth phase, with TGF-β possibly starting the catagen phase.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

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

In male pattern hair loss, this study found that finasteride 1 mg daily significantly slowed hair loss and increased hair growth over two years compared to placebo.