Finasteride in the Treatment of Female Pattern (Androgenic) Alopecia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

August 2012 in “ PubMed ”

Olga Boychenko, Robert Bernstein, Eric S Schweiger

finasteride female pattern alopecia androgenic alopecia minoxidil hair shedding hair regrowth Propecia female pattern baldness Rogaine

TLDR Finasteride may effectively treat female pattern hair loss.

The document described a case of a 44-year-old woman with female androgenic alopecia (FAGA) who did not respond to topical minoxidil. She was treated with oral finasteride 1.25 mg daily, resulting in a significant reduction in hair shedding and increased hair regrowth within 3.5 months, without any side effects. Additionally, the document reviewed limited studies and case series on finasteride use for FAGA, suggesting its potential effectiveness in treating this condition.

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Research cited in this study

13 / 13 results

research Medical Treatments for Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss

212 citations, September 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Minoxidil and finasteride treat hair loss in men, while minoxidil treats hair loss in women.

research A Review of Hormonal Therapy for Female Pattern (Androgenic) Alopecia

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Hormonal therapies like cyproterone acetate and spironolactone may help some women with hair loss, but finasteride 1mg is not useful, and the effectiveness of other treatments is still unclear.

research A Woman With Iatrogenic Androgenetic Alopecia Responding To Finasteride

13 citations, February 2007 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

EF and PXE not closely related.

research Finasteride Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss

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Finasteride with oral contraceptive helps improve hair loss in premenopausal women.

research The Lack of Significant Changes in Scalp Hair Follicle Density With Advancing Age

33 citations, April 2005 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Aging alone barely affects the number of hair follicles, meaning hair loss is minimal without other conditions like androgenetic alopecia.

research Finasteride Treatment of Patterned Hair Loss in Normoandrogenic Postmenopausal Women

72 citations, January 2004 in “Dermatology”

Finasteride can slow hair loss and promote growth in postmenopausal women.

research Androgens and Alopecia

165 citations, December 2002 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology”

Male hormones, particularly DHT, are linked to male pattern hair loss, and treatments like finasteride can help, but they don't work for postmenopausal women's hair loss, which may have different causes.

research Hair Loss in Women with Hyperandrogenism: Four Cases Responding to Finasteride

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Finasteride improves hair loss in women with hyperandrogenism.

research Hair Density, Hair Diameter, and the Prevalence of Female Pattern Hair Loss

234 citations, February 2001 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

FPHL affects hair density and diameter, causing visible hair loss in older women.

research Lack of Efficacy of Finasteride in Postmenopausal Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

239 citations, November 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride doesn't effectively treat hair loss in postmenopausal women.

research Clinical Dose Ranging Studies with Finasteride, a Type 2 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, in Men with Male Pattern Hair Loss

46 citations, October 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride effectively treats male pattern hair loss with a 1 mg daily dose.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Frontal Male Pattern Hair Loss

187 citations, June 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride effectively treats frontal hair loss with few side effects.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

581 citations, October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Finasteride safely and effectively treats male pattern hair loss, but may cause reversible sexual issues and harm male fetuses.

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community Taking Charge of Your Hair: The "Big 3 Stack" Explained for 2023

in Research/Science 129 upvotes 1 year ago

The "Big 3 Stack" for hair loss treatment, which includes Minoxidil for hair density improvement, Ketoconazole shampoo for enhancing hair volume and thickness, and Finasteride for blocking hair loss causing hormones. Microneedling can boost Minoxidil's effects.

community 9 months on Fin - no progress , should I get on Dutasteride?

in Chat 10 upvotes 3 months ago

The user has been using finasteride, minoxidil, and nizoral for hair loss but hasn't seen regrowth, only maintenance. They are considering switching to dutasteride, which is believed to be more effective, but are concerned about potential side effects.

community 3,5 months progress. Definetely works. Hyper responder?? Idk but shit works. 20M

in Progress Pictures 430 upvotes 9 months ago

A user shared a 3.5-month hair regrowth progress using Minoxidil, ketoconazole, and dermarolling, and has started taking oral finasteride to maintain gains. There was a significant initial hair shed, which is normal for these treatments.

community Quit vaping/smoking = 80% less loss

in Research/Science 235 upvotes 10 months ago

Quitting vaping significantly reduced hair loss for a user who was a heavy vaper and also taking finasteride. Some participants suggest nicotine's vasoconstrictive properties may worsen hair loss, while others share personal anecdotes of hair improvement after quitting smoking or vaping.

community Female, 27 years old, shedding/ balding despite being on what is considered to be a effective treatment plan for AGA. Considering Dut (oral) . Please help.

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 26 upvotes 3 months ago

A 27-year-old woman with androgenic alopecia is losing hair despite using oral minoxidil and spironolactone, and is considering dutasteride. She is exploring causes like stress and medication side effects, planning tests, and considering treatment changes.

Compressed part of research of theory of androgenic/anabolitic balance. AGA h-responders analytic. Theory of physio-metabolitic method of anti AGA treatment

community Compressed part of research of theory of androgenic/anabolitic balance. AGA h-responders analytic. Theory of physio-metabolitic method of anti AGA treatment

in Research 840 upvotes 3 months ago

The treatment for androgenetic alopecia involves using finasteride and minoxidil with intense exercise and cold exposure to boost metabolism and reduce androgenic effects, potentially leading to hair regrowth. This approach may activate biological pathways for improved hair and overall health.

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Finasteride may effectively treat female pattern hair loss.

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