Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil and Finasteride Association Compared to Monotherapy in Men With Androgenetic Alopecia: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Assessor-Blinded, 3-Arm, Pilot Trial

October 2023 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Alfredo Rossi, Gemma Caro

minoxidil finasteride androgenetic alopecia topical treatment hair density cosmetic acceptability hormonal levels Rogaine Propecia AGA

TLDR Using both minoxidil and finasteride together is more effective for hair growth than using either one alone in men with hair loss.

The study involved 42 men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and examined the effectiveness of a combined treatment of 5% Minoxidil (MNX) and 0.25% topical Finasteride (F) compared to their individual use. Participants were divided into three groups: group A (19 men) used both MNX and F, group B (12 men) used F alone, and group C (11 men) used MNX alone. The results showed that all groups saw an increase in hair density, but the increase was only statistically significant in group A, suggesting that the combined treatment is more effective than using F alone. After 6 months, group A saw an increase of +81 hairs/cm2, significantly higher than group B (+18 hairs/cm2) and group C (+38 hairs/cm2). The combined treatment was also well-tolerated and had higher cosmetic acceptability. No significant differences were observed in hormonal levels between the groups. The study suggests that the combined treatment could be recommended for men with severe AGA or those unresponsive to other topical therapies.

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