This 2019 cohort study published in Dermatologic Therapy (PMID: 30253001) reviews the clinical use, efficacy, and public concerns surrounding finasteride for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA). It highlights that over 80% of male patients experienced halted hair loss after 12 months of finasteride therapy (1 mg/day). However, the treatment’s reputation has
This 2012 observational study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (PMID: 22939118) examined the mental health of 61 former finasteride users who developed persistent sexual side effects after discontinuation. Results showed that 75% of these men had depressive symptoms (BDI-II ≥ 14), and 44% reported suicidal thoughts—dramatically higher than
This 2022 phase III randomized, double-blind study (PMID: 34634163) evaluated topical finasteride spray versus placebo and oral finasteride in 458 men with androgenetic alopecia over 24 weeks. Topical finasteride significantly increased hair count compared to placebo (20.2 vs. 6.7 hairs; p < 0.001) and performed comparably to oral finasteride in
Finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, is approved for treating male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) and works by reducing levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone linked to hair loss. Taken orally at 1 mg/day, it significantly improves hair growth and density by preventing the miniaturization of hair follicles. While generally well-tolerated, the
