Finasteride in Early Male Baldness

The authors of this document conducted a literature review to evaluate the effectiveness of finasteride (1 mg) in treating early male pattern baldness. They found that finasteride has a positive effect on hair growth, as demonstrated by a randomized controlled trial of 179 men who used finasteride for 24 weeks and showed significant improvement in hair count and dermatologist assessment compared to placebo. However, the authors note that there is a lack of independent, long-term studies on the drug's effectiveness and potential side effects, such as sexual dysfunction. While the current evidence supports the use of finasteride for early male pattern baldness, more high-quality, long-term studies are needed.