The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia
October 1999
in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”
TLDR Finasteride effectively reduces hair loss by decreasing androgen levels.
Finasteride is an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia in men. It reduces serum and scalp skin androgen levels, particularly DHT, which contributes to hair loss. The drug inhibits type 2 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT. The study involved a large number of participants and found that doses as low as 0.2 mg per day can effectively decrease scalp skin and serum DHT levels. Higher doses result in greater reductions but may also increase scalp skin testosterone levels. Finasteride is safe and well-tolerated with minimal side effects. The drug can also improve the overall health and quality of scalp skin.
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