Response to the Letter to the Editor: Androgenetic Alopecia, Drug Safety, and Therapeutic Strategies

The authors respond to a letter to the editor regarding drug safety and therapeutic strategies for androgenetic alopecia. They note that androgenetic alopecia is not considered an effective disease, as it has minimal or no impact on body physiology, and that androgens are only partly responsible for hair loss. They caution against procedures that result in androgenic suppression, such as dutasteride and finasteride, due to their associated adverse effects. They suggest that finasteride should be preferred to dutasteride and that oral administration of finasteride for androgenetic alopecia should be reevaluated in favor of topical therapies. They also note that the risk-benefit ratio of finasteride should be considered, as the benefit is related to an esthetic aspect while the risk is related to very real organic adverse effects.