P-3074 effectively blocks scalp DHT better than oral finasteride.
Topical finasteride may better target hair follicles without significant benefits over oral form.
March 2012 in “DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)” This study found that six months of using 0.5% finasteride cream did not significantly reduce hair number or thickness in women with idiopathic facial hirsutism, though patients perceived less hair growth.
September 1997 in “Inpharma Weekly” Rubbing finasteride on the scalp helps with hair loss.
February 2026 in “Archiv Euromedica” In this narrative review, researchers reported that oral finasteride significantly improved hair count and density in male androgenetic alopecia but had higher systemic exposure and potential side effects compared to topical formulations, which provided similar efficacy with lower systemic DHT suppression.
August 2023 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” This study found that combining minoxidil and spironolactone was more effective for hair density and severity of hair loss in women with androgenic alopecia compared to minoxidil and finasteride, with no serious adverse effects reported.
March 2023 in “Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine” This systematic review concluded that 5 mg of oral finasteride per day could be an effective and safe treatment for female pattern hair loss in normoandrogenic women, particularly when combined with other medications.
December 2022 in “Dermatologie pro praxi” In this case study, a combination of PRP, topical minoxidil, and topical finasteride showed significantly better results in treating androgenic alopecia than minoxidil alone for a 35-year-old male patient.
September 2022 in “Dermatologic Therapy” This study found that the U.S. stock market responded heterogeneously to the latest presidential elections, with positive reactions in the Energy, Financials, and Industrials sectors but poorer performance among firms with better environmental scores.
December 2021 in “International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries” This review examined existing studies on topical finasteride for androgenetic alopecia and noted inconsistent application of hair evaluation methods, suggesting a need for standardization in future research.
December 2021 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature” Topical finasteride is promising for hair loss with minimal side effects but needs more research and approval.
August 2021 in “Annales pharmaceutiques françaises” This study used computer simulations to evaluate the absorption of oral and topical finasteride for treating androgenetic alopecia, finding that topical applications resulted in lower plasma concentrations, suggesting potential viability as a treatment option.
April 2021 in “Texila international journal of academic research” In this randomized clinical trial, researchers reported that both topical and systemic finasteride treatments were similarly effective in increasing hair counts and terminal hair in men with androgenic alopecia after more than 3 months of follow-up.
April 2021 in “International Journal of Research in Dermatology” This study found that treating male pattern androgenetic alopecia with a combination of topical minoxidil and finasteride resulted in better outcomes for hair growth and density compared to using minoxidil alone.
June 2020 in “The Medical Journal of Cairo University” In this study, topical spironolactone was found to be more effective than topical finasteride for treating androgenetic alopecia in both males and females, with fewer side effects compared to oral finasteride.
June 2018 in “American journal of biomedicine” This study found that while there were no significant objective changes in facial hirsutism using topical finasteride, most patients perceived a reduction in hair growth after treatment.
May 2018 in “Hair transplant forum international” Topical finasteride promotes hair growth with minimal side effects but needs more research for women and optimal use.
August 2016 in “International journal of scientific research” In this study, most male patients with androgenic alopecia who transitioned from oral to topical finasteride with minoxidil maintained good hair density.
December 2022 in “Clinical and experimental dermatology and therapies” In this study, the addition of a topical gel containing growth-factor mimicking oligopeptides and other ingredients showed improved efficacy in subjects with androgenic alopecia using minoxidil or finasteride compared to drug treatment alone.
January 2025 in “Clinical Dermatology Review” In this study of female pattern hair loss, oral finasteride 5 mg and topical minoxidil 5% both significantly improved hair density and patient satisfaction over 6 months, outperforming finasteride 2 mg, which showed limited improvement beyond the third month. All treatments were deemed safe.
August 2024 in “Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences” This study found that adding platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to oral finasteride was more effective in improving hair density and regrowth than combining finasteride with topical minoxidil for treating androgenic alopecia.
July 2022 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” This study found that in patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia, combining topical tacrolimus with isotretinoin is more effective after four weeks of treatment compared to tacrolimus with finasteride, though both regimens offered some benefit.
23 citations
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December 1995 in “Archives of Dermatology” This case report discusses a 32-year-old man's treatment for advanced androgenetic alopecia using a combination of topical minoxidil and oral finasteride, but no clinical outcomes are detailed.
1 citations
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December 1995 in “Archives of Dermatology” This case report describes a patient with advanced androgenetic alopecia who underwent a 6-month trial of topical minoxidil and oral finasteride, aiming to optimize hair regrowth without surgery.
June 2017 in “IP Indian journal of clinical and experimental dermatology” This study found that using a combination of 10% topical minoxidil, oral finasteride, and microneedling for six months effectively improved male pattern baldness with moderate to excellent responses and high patient satisfaction, without major side effects among the 25 participants.
56 citations
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January 2007 in “Pharmaceutical Development and Technology” This study found that finasteride-loaded liposomal formulations achieved significantly higher skin permeation and deposition compared to conventional gels and solutions, suggesting potential for effective topical application.
52 citations
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November 2013 in “European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” This study examined different polymersome systems for topical finasteride delivery and found that chitosan-decorated C7 polymersomes may enhance skin retention and provide controlled drug release compared to non-decorated systems in laboratory settings.
36 citations
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September 2018 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” This study found that a topical combination of 0.25% finasteride and 3% minoxidil may increase hair diameter more effectively than 3% minoxidil alone in postmenopausal women with female pattern hair loss.
23 citations
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June 2014 in “Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” This study found that the HPCH-based formulation P-08–016 may facilitate finasteride deposition in the dermis, potentially offering an alternative to systemic therapy by minimizing systemic absorption.
14 citations
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June 2014 in “Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” This study validated the differential stripping technique on hairless rat skin and found that the P-08–016 formulation delivered more finasteride to the epidermis and appendages compared to P-10–008.