Comparative Effects of Monotherapy with Topical Minoxidil, Oral Finasteride, and Topical Finasteride in Postmenopausal Women with Pattern Hair Loss: A Retrospective Cohort Study

January 2024 in “ Skin appendage disorders ”

Michela Starace, Aditya K. Gupta, Mary A Bamimore, Mesbah Talukder, Federico Quadrelli, Bianca Maria Piraccini

topical minoxidil oral finasteride topical finasteride pattern hair loss postmenopausal women hair density hair diameter Rogaine Propecia

From the encyclopedia

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Studysummary This study compared the effectiveness of topical finasteride, oral finasteride, and topical minoxidil over 12 months in postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia, exploring their therapeutic effects on this population. Results are not reported in the abstract. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study compared the effectiveness of topical finasteride, oral finasteride, and topical minoxidil in treating pattern hair loss in postmenopausal women. The treatments were administered for 12 months and their impact was evaluated based on changes in total hair density, hair diameter, clinical photographs, and patients' opinion of efficacy. The results showed that oral finasteride was ranked as the most effective treatment across all four outcomes, while topical finasteride was the least effective. However, no significant statistical differences were found between the treatments. The study concluded that while oral finasteride appears to be more effective than the topical forms of minoxidil and finasteride, more research is needed to confirm this result.

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Research cited in this study

4 / 4 results

research A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials Using Single or Combination Therapy of Oral or Topical Finasteride for Women in Reproductive Age and Postmenopausal Women with Hormonal and Nonhormonal Androgenetic Alopecia

March 2023 in “Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine”

This systematic review concluded that 5 mg of oral finasteride per day could be an effective and safe treatment for female pattern hair loss in normoandrogenic women, particularly when combined with other medications.

research Efficacy and Safety of Topical Finasteride Spray Solution for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Phase III, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

11 citations , October 2021 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study found that topical finasteride significantly increased hair count in men with androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo while maintaining similar efficacy to oral finasteride but with lower systemic exposure and a reduced impact on serum DHT levels, potentially minimizing sexual side effects.

research Finasteride for Hair Loss: A Review

4 citations , July 2021 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

This meta-analysis reported that finasteride 1 mg/day significantly increased hair count in male androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo, but highlighted persistent sexual side effects and associated depression risk.

research Minoxidil: A Comprehensive Review

16 citations , June 2021 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

This study reported that while topical minoxidil exhibits hair regrowth in androgenetic alopecia, oral minoxidil 5 mg/day was more effective than topical forms after six months, with low doses also potentially effective for women and other hair loss types.