Photosensitivity Reaction Induced by Finasteride

A 34-year-old man developed a desquamating facial eruption after taking oral finasteride for four months to prevent alopecia androgenetica. Despite initial misdiagnoses and ineffective treatments, detailed history-taking revealed drug-induced photosensitivity. Discontinuing finasteride for two weeks led to significant improvement in the rash. This case highlights the importance of thorough drug history-taking to identify drug-induced photosensitivity, a condition where certain medications, including finasteride, cause abnormal skin reactions upon light exposure. This was the clinic's first reported case of finasteride-induced photosensitivity.