Relative Efficacy of Conventional Monotherapies and Select Nonconventional, Over-The-Counter Products for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Network Meta-Analysis Study

October 2025 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Aditya K. Gupta, Mary A. Bamimore, Mesbah Talukder

androgenetic alopecia oral dutasteride topical minoxidil oral minoxidil topical finasteride oral finasteride topical melatonin rosemary oil AGA Propecia Rogaine

TLDR Conventional treatments like dutasteride and minoxidil are effective for male hair loss, with some alternative treatments also showing promise.

This network meta-analysis study evaluated the relative efficacy of conventional monotherapies and select nonconventional, over-the-counter products for male androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The analysis included 24 eligible trials and assessed changes in total hair density at 24 weeks from baseline. The study confirmed the efficacy of conventional treatments such as oral dutasteride, topical/oral minoxidil, and oral/topical finasteride. Additionally, it provided insights into the relative efficacy of some alternative treatments, like topical melatonin and rosemary oil, compared to these conventional therapies.

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Research cited in this study

43 / 43 results

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