Follow-Up of 1 mg Finasteride Treatment of Male Pattern Baldness: Differences Between Clinical Trials and Private Office Follow-Up and Influences on Prescribing Habits Evaluated

The study evaluated the efficacy and patient compliance of finasteride for treating male pattern baldness. Only 32% of patients continued to take the medication daily for 1 to 3 years, and a small percentage reported hair growth while the majority noted poor results. The study highlights the importance of understanding patient expectations and compliance when prescribing cosmetic medications. The article also discusses the importance of large-scale, non-drug-company-sponsored studies in evaluating the true, long-term clinical benefits of dermatologic medications and the need for more objective and comprehensive studies to evaluate the true clinical benefits of dermatologic medications.