Topical Antiandrogens in the Treatment of Male-Pattern Baldness

As of 1988, the use of antiandrogen therapy for treating androgen-induced baldness was still in the early stages. Topical antiandrogens were considered a promising option for men due to the potential for fewer side effects compared to systemic treatments. However, measuring the effectiveness of these treatments on scalp hair growth presented challenges. Hirsutism was suggested as a model for evaluating the efficacy of topical antiandrogens. The possibility of using systemic 5α-reductase inhibitors for male-pattern baldness was also mentioned, but concerns about side effects and long-term risks remained. For women, systemic antiandrogens were deemed a reasonable treatment option with a good subjective response, but further research was necessary to establish their long-term safety and effectiveness.