Finasteride Increases Anagen Hair in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

October 2000 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”

D. Van Neste, Vivian L. Fuh, P. Sanchez-Pedreno, Eduardo López-Bran, Helmut H. Wolff, David A. Whiting, Jay Roberts, Daisy Kopera, J. J. Stene, Stefano Calvieri, Antonella Tosti, Errol P. Prens, Marcella Guarrera, P Kanojia, Wenlong He, Keith D. Kaufman

finasteride anagen hair androgenetic alopecia anagen phase telogen phase anagen to telogen ratio male pattern hair loss Propecia male pattern baldness

Studysummary This study found that finasteride increases anagen hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

A study involving over 1,500 men with androgenetic alopecia found that finasteride can increase hair density by increasing the anagen phase of hair growth. The drug was found to be effective in increasing the number of actively growing hairs and decreasing the number of resting hairs, resulting in a higher anagen to telogen ratio. Continued treatment over 48 weeks leads to a progressive increase in anagen hair count and anagen to telogen ratio. Finasteride is a safe and effective treatment for male pattern hair loss, but should be avoided by pregnant women due to the potential risk of undervirilization of a male fetus.

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