Understanding Hair Loss

    July 1997 in “ Inpharma Weekly ”
    Wayne Elwood
    Image of study
    TLDR Finasteride improves hair growth and satisfaction in men with male pattern baldness but may cause sexual side effects.
    In 1997, Dr. Wayne Elwood discussed the psychological impact of hair loss and the clinical trials of finasteride, a new treatment for androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness, MPB). Finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, was evaluated in large multinational, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies. Results from two phase III trials involving over 1,500 men showed that finasteride 1 mg/day led to a mean increase of 107 hairs in a 1 inch diameter circle after one year, and it prevented further hair loss, improved hair growth and appearance, and increased patient satisfaction. Another study with 326 men showed finasteride significantly improved frontal scalp hair counts after 12 months. Finasteride was well tolerated, with a small percentage experiencing decreased libido or erectile dysfunction, which often resolved with continued treatment or upon discontinuation. Finasteride was not recommended for women of child-bearing potential due to the risk of birth defects. At the time, finasteride was undergoing regulatory review for MPB treatment and was not yet available for this indication globally.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community Hair Loss Drugs Ranked in Order of Efficacy

      in Research/Science  67 upvotes 1 year ago
      Dutasteride is likely the most effective treatment for male pattern baldness, followed by finasteride and minoxidil in various forms and dosages. Users discuss personal experiences, dosages, and potential side effects, with some considering combining treatments for better results.

      community Another clueless guy fearmongering and spreading misinformation

      in Chat  251 upvotes 10 months ago
      The conversation discusses hair loss treatments, with some users advocating for finasteride and minoxidil, while others express concerns about potential side effects of finasteride. A social media influencer is criticized for promoting scalp massages and minoxidil over finasteride, which some believe is misinformation.

      community Does finasteride/dutasteride reverse aging?

      in Chat  45 upvotes 2 months ago
      Finasteride and dutasteride can improve skin texture and reduce acne by lowering DHT but do not reverse aging. They may enhance skin and hair health for some, but can also cause side effects like dry skin and sexual dysfunction.
      Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      in Research  692 upvotes 4 months ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

    Related Research

    9 / 9 results