165 citations,
August 2013 in “Lasers in Surgery and Medicine” Low-Level Laser Therapy is effective and safe for hair growth with minimal side effects.
99 citations,
April 2005 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” Finasteride effectively treats hidradenitis suppurativa for most patients.
71 citations,
November 2012 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can cause sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual desire, sometimes lasting after stopping the drug.
66 citations,
June 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride increases hair weight and count in men with hair loss, with best results after four years.
64 citations,
March 2006 in “Food Chemistry” The triterpenoids from Ganoderma lucidum can block testosterone effects and may help treat enlarged prostate.
58 citations,
November 2020 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” SHBG may be a useful early indicator and treatment target for PCOS.
52 citations,
April 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Male pattern baldness involves three mechanisms and finasteride can help reverse it.
51 citations,
May 2011 in “Phytotherapy Research” Ginseng, especially red ginseng, may help regrow hair and block a hair loss-related enzyme.
48 citations,
February 2013 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology” The protein StAR is found in 17 different organs and can affect hair loss and brain functions, but its full role is not yet fully understood.
47 citations,
September 2016 in “Reviews in endocrine and metabolic disorders” The skin's ability to produce hormones is linked to various skin conditions, and better understanding this process could lead to new treatments.
42 citations,
January 2006 in “Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey” The document concludes that correct diagnosis and management of PCOS are important, and more research is needed on its risks and treatments.
33 citations,
January 2016 in “Skin appendage disorders” The document concludes that sexual and psychiatric side effects from 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are reported, but more high-quality research is needed to understand how often they occur.
32 citations,
February 2019 in “Journal of neurochemistry” Sex hormones affect brain injury differently in males and females.
27 citations,
January 2001 in “Endocrine Practice” Finasteride cream reduces hair growth in women with hirsutism, but more research needed.
23 citations,
August 2005 in “Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy” New treatments for low male hormones improved sexual function and mood but had unclear risks, especially for older men.
21 citations,
November 2017 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” Higher enzyme levels found in women with hair loss, suggesting hormone imbalance.
20 citations,
June 2017 in “Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation” Long-term use of dutasteride for enlarged prostate may worsen blood sugar, cholesterol, and erectile dysfunction.
20 citations,
March 2017 in “Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology” Women with PCOS have higher 5α-reductase activity, which may be linked to insulin resistance.
17 citations,
May 2003 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Hair from balding and non-balding areas regrows similarly on mice.
16 citations,
January 2006 in “The Aging Male” Hormone imbalances can cause skin diseases, and understanding these links is important for diagnosis and treatment.
15 citations,
January 1998 in “Journal of Clinical Periodontology” Finasteride helps treat hair loss by blocking enzyme activity.
12 citations,
March 2014 in “ISRN Pharmacology (Print)” Minoxidil with tretinoin boosts hair growth most effectively, followed by minoxidil alone, and then ketoconazole.
11 citations,
September 2019 in “Dermatologic Surgery” A substance called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor can protect certain hair follicle stem cells from damage caused by androgens, suggesting a new possible treatment for hair loss.
11 citations,
January 2017 in “Journal of Endocrinology/Journal of endocrinology” Female mice with disrupted 5α-reductase 1 had significant metabolic issues, including stress response problems, insulin resistance, liver fat buildup, and obesity.
11 citations,
January 2017 in “Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine” DA-5512 effectively improves hair growth and health, performing better than minoxidil.
10 citations,
October 2008 in “Andrologia” Finasteride changes antioxidant enzyme expression, possibly affecting sperm protection in rats.
7 citations,
January 2022 in “Animal Reproduction” Using rodents for research shows that health problems in the womb can cause diseases later in life.
5 citations,
March 2019 in “International Journal of Endocrinology” Exercise and finasteride together improve ovary health in PCOS rats.
5 citations,
August 2014 in “Pharmaceutical Development and Technology” Propylene glycol and ethanol increase finasteride skin absorption, sodium lauryl sulfate doesn't.
5 citations,
June 2012 in “Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy” Finasteride and intense pulsed light effectively reduce unwanted facial hair in women, but may not be cost-effective.