Online Traffic Analysis of Direct-to-Consumer Websites for Hair Loss Treatment and Characterization of Finasteride Patients on a Platform in Germany: A Potential Paradigm Shift in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

    F Abeck, I. Hansen, I Wiesenhütter, Florian Schröder, Julian Kött, Stefan W Schneider, Johannes von Büren
    TLDR More people are using online platforms for hair loss treatment due to convenience and privacy.
    The study analyzed online traffic and patient characteristics for direct-to-consumer websites offering finasteride treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AA) from Q1 2018 to Q1 2022, revealing a significant increase in visitors, particularly to Keeps, Shapiro MD, and Myspring. Analysis of 2,904 male patients from a German platform showed a mean age of 32.7 years, with 53.9% residing in rural areas, and most discovering the platform through TV and Google ads. The study suggests a potential paradigm shift towards digital care for AA, driven by patient preference for convenience and privacy, while also highlighting the benefits for minorities and those with lower incomes, despite concerns about overdiagnosis and patient safety.
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