Patient-Reported Outcomes of Topical Finasteride/Minoxidil Treatment for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Study Using Telemedical Data

This retrospective study evaluated patient-reported outcomes for 1545 men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) treated with a topical combination of finasteride and minoxidil via a teledermatology platform in Germany. Of the 238 patients who completed follow-up questionnaires, 62.2% reported positive changes in hair appearance, and 44.1% noted improved self-esteem after six weeks. Treatment-related adverse events were reported by 11.8% of patients, with mild headaches (3.8%) and local scalp itchiness (5.0%) being the most common. Sexual adverse events were reported by 2.5% of patients, with no reports of depressed moods. The study suggests that topical finasteride/minoxidil is effective and well-tolerated, with fewer systemic adverse events compared to oral finasteride.