The effectiveness of finasteride and dutasteride used for 3 years in women with androgenetic alopecia.
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Date
2014-11
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Abstract
Background: The effectiveness of finasteride and dutasteride in women with androgenetic
alopecia has been the subject of debate. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of finasteride
and dutasteride on hair loss in women with androgenetic alopecia over a period of 3 years.
Methods: From a database containing systematically retrieved data on 3500 women treated
for androgenetic alopecia between 2002 and 2012 with finasteride 1.25 mg or dutasteride
0.15 mg, a random sample stratified for age and type of medication was taken to yield 30
women in two age categories: below and above 50 years, and for both medications. Hair
thickness of the three thinnest hairs was measured from standardized microscopic images
at three sites of the scalp at the start of the treatment and after 3 years of continuous
medication intake. The macroscopic images were evaluated independently by three European
dermatologists/hair experts. The diagnostic task was to identify the image displaying superior
density of the hair. Results: Both age categories showed a statistically significant increase
in hair thickness from baseline over the 3‑year period for finasteride and dutasteride (signed
rank test, P = 0.02). Hair thickness increase was observed in 49 (81.7%) women in the
finasteride group and in 50 (83.3%) women in the dutasteride group. On average, the
number of post‑treatment images rated as displaying superior density was 124 (68.9%)
in the finasteride group, and 118 (65.6%) in the dutasteride group. Dutasteride performed
statistically significantly better than finasteride in the age category below 50 years at the
central and vertex sites of the scalp. Conclusions: Finasteride 1.25 mg and dutasteride
0.15 mg given daily for 3 years effectively increased hair thickness and arrested further
deterioration in women with androgenetic alopecia.
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Keywords
Androgenetic alopecia, dutasteride, effectiveness, female pattern baldness, finasteride
Citation
Boersma Ids H, Oranje Arnold P, Grimalt Ramon, Iorizzo Matilde, Piraccini Bianca M, Verdonschot Emiel H. The effectiveness of finasteride and dutasteride used for 3 years in women with androgenetic alopecia. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2014 Nov-Dec; 80(6): 521-525.