Male Androgenetic Alopecia: Medical and Surgical Treatments

February 2005 in “ The Journal of Men's Health & Gender ”

Rodney Sinclair

androgenetic alopecia topical minoxidil oral 5 alpha reductase inhibitors hair transplantation colored hair sprays wigs toupees finasteride placebo hair density prophylactic treatment 5 alpha reductase inhibitors Rogaine Propecia hair transplants hairpieces

From the encyclopedia

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This article reviews treatment options for male androgenetic alopecia, including their distinct aims of arresting progression, stimulating regrowth, and concealing hair loss, and reports no new clinical results. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This article discusses the medical and surgical treatments available for male androgenetic alopecia, including topical minoxidil, oral 5 alpha reductase inhibitors, hair transplantation, colored hair sprays, wigs, and toupees. The study investigated the effectiveness of finasteride in treating androgenetic alopecia in men, finding that it was superior to placebo and produced hair of greater length and thickness. The document also discusses the use of photography to monitor hair density changes, the safety and efficacy of finasteride, and the various surgical techniques available for hair transplantation. Androgenetic alopecia may be a marker of increased risk for the development of prostate cancer, and prophylactic treatment with 5 x reductase inhibitors is currently under investigation.

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Research cited in this study

21 / 21 results

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research Evaluation of Sexual Function in Subjects Taking Finasteride for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

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research Androgenetic Alopecia in Men and Women

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research Finasteride Increases Anagen Hair in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

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

Measuring Reversal of Hair Miniaturization in Androgenetic Alopecia by Follicular Counts in Horizontal Sections of Serial Scalp Biopsies: Results of Finasteride 1mg Treatment of Men and Postmenopausal Women

research Measuring Reversal of Hair Miniaturization in Androgenetic Alopecia by Follicular Counts in Horizontal Sections of Serial Scalp Biopsies: Results of Finasteride 1mg Treatment of Men and Postmenopausal Women

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Changes in Hair Weight and Hair Count in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia After Application of 5% and 2% Topical Minoxidil, Placebo, or No Treatment

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

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This study reported that finasteride 1 mg/day significantly increased hair growth and slowed hair loss in men with frontal scalp hair thinning over one year, and these benefits continued or improved in the second year.

research Novel Agents for the Treatment of Alopecia

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Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia