Progression of Hair Loss in Men With Androgenetic Alopecia: Long-Term Controlled Observational Data in Placebo-Treated Patients

The study aimed to investigate the progression of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also known as male pattern hair loss, in untreated men. The researchers analyzed data from two studies over a 5-year period, where men were treated with a placebo. Four different measures were used to assess hair growth: scalp hair counts, clinical photographs, investigator assessment, and patient self-assessment. The results showed that men receiving placebo experienced progressive scalp hair loss over the 5-year period. There was a significant decline in hair density, with a loss of 239 hairs from baseline (26.3% decline) in the target area at 5 years. Global photographic assessment also showed visible progression of scalp hair loss, with 75% of placebo patients rated as worsened from baseline at 5 years. Therefore, the study concluded that scalp hair loss continued to progress in untreated men with AGA over a 5-year period.