Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil and Finasteride Combination Versus Monotherapy in Men With Androgenetic Alopecia: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Assessor-Blinded, 3-Arm, Pilot Trial
October 2023
in “
Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature
”
TLDR Using both minoxidil and finasteride together on the scalp works better for male hair loss than using either one alone.
The study, a prospective, randomized, controlled, 3-arm assessor-blinded pilot trial, demonstrated the effectiveness of combining topical minoxidil and topical finasteride for treating men with androgenetic alopecia, compared to using either treatment alone. The combined therapy showed better results by increasing hair density, had a superior safety profile, and allowed for faster results. The treatment consisted of 5% minoxidil and 0.25% finasteride applied topically for a minimum of 6 months. The findings could potentially change clinical practices, suggesting that this new treatment variant should be considered by doctors for treating androgenetic alopecia in men.