Cross-Sectional Study on Prescription Habits in Androgenetic Alopecia Among Dermatologists in Spain in 2017

In 2017, a study involving 241 dermatologists in Spain found that the most commonly prescribed treatments for male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA) were topical minoxidil (98%), oral finasteride (96%), and nutricosmetics (44%). For premenopausal female androgenetic alopecia (FAGA), the most common treatments were topical minoxidil (98%), oral contraceptives (81%), and nutricosmetics (72%), while for postmenopausal FAGA, they were topical minoxidil (98%), oral finasteride (84%), and nutricosmetics (68%). Androgenetic alopecia was the leading cause of hair loss consultations, accounting for 38% of cases. The study also observed that certain treatments like topical finasteride, oral dutasteride, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) were more commonly prescribed in private practice. The authors suggested the need for a therapeutic guide to standardize treatment based on strong scientific evidence, acknowledging the study's limitations such as the exclusion of some new treatments, no prior sample size calculation, and possible recall bias.