TLDR A trial found that using finasteride, a hair growth drug, can be effectively measured by comparing before and after photos.
In 1994, a 12-month, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter pilot clinical trial was conducted to study the effects of oral finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, on men aged 18 to 35 years old with Hamilton classification III vertex or IV male pattern baldness (MPB). The study used various clinical efficacy endpoints including hair counts, patient self-assessment, investigator assessment, and blinded assessment of global photographic slides of the vertex area. The validity of the global photographic assessment was tested for reproducibility by a single experienced dermatologist who rated each patient's change from baseline in hair growth at the end of the 12-month study period. The results of this study were not provided in the document.
11 citations,
October 2021 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Topical finasteride is an effective and safer treatment for male hair loss.
38 citations,
February 2019 in “Clinical Interventions in Aging” Dutasteride more effectively treats hair loss than finasteride, but may increase risk of altered libido.
23 citations,
January 2019 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Finasteride improves hair growth and reduces hirsutism in women, but side effects and optimal dosages need further research.
15 citations,
January 2018 in “Acta dermato-venereologica” Finasteride and dutasteride increase sexual dysfunction risk by 1.57 times in male hair loss treatment.
66 citations,
June 2013 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” Finasteride and dutasteride effectively treat hair loss, but may cause side effects like sexual dysfunction and depression.
22 citations,
April 2003 in “PubMed” Finasteride 1 mg significantly improves hair growth in men aged 41 to 60 with male pattern hair loss.
581 citations,
October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride safely and effectively treats male pattern hair loss, but may cause reversible sexual issues and harm male fetuses.
102 citations,
October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Photographic documentation crucial for evaluating hair growth in androgenetic alopecia.
2 citations,
January 1994 in “PubMed”