Topical Finasteride Beneficial in Androgenic Alopecia

    September 1997 in “ Inpharma Weekly ”
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    Studysummary Rubbing finasteride on the scalp helps with hair loss.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    In a pilot study conducted by researchers from Italy, topical finasteride showed promise in treating androgenic alopecia. The study involved 52 patients (28 men), who were divided into two groups: 26 patients applied a 0.005% finasteride solution and 26 applied a placebo, both twice daily for 16 months. At the end of the study, the finasteride group had a significant improvement in scalp hair status, with a progressive decrease in the rate of hair loss from 6 months onwards, and the difference in hair loss rate between the two groups was statistically significant. Only 10 patients in the placebo group completed the study due to a lack of improvement. The tolerability of the topical finasteride was rated as 'excellent'. Hair regrowth was assessed on a 6-point scale, with outcomes ranging from 'marked enlargement of balding areas' to 'complete restoration of hair density'.
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