Investigation of Oral Finasteride Enhanced Occipital Hair Diameter Index in Different Types of Male Androgenetic Alopecia
Description
Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is a condition that causes gradual hair thinning and baldness in certain areas of the scalp. Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL) affects the frontotemporal and vertex regions, while Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) presents as diffuse thinning of the central scalp with a preserved hairline. Historically, the occipital region was considered an unaffected area of AGA, leading to little research on the efficacy of alopecia medication in this area. 1 However, recent studies have shown that both MPHL and FPHL can cause changes in the occipital hair and contribute to AGA, highlighting the importance of investigating the effects of drugs like finasteride on the occipital region.This study aimed to fill the gap in real-world scenarios by retrospectively reviewing patients treated with finasteride at our clinic for 6 months or longer. We evaluated the changes in occipital hair thickness and measured various hair parameters under digital trichoscope of MPHL and FPHL patients before and after treatment. Using the Hair Diameter Index to estimate visual hair density range, we were able to quantify the changes observed. The favorable outcome regarding the use of finasteride may provide citable evidence for medication prior to hair transplant surgery.
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We retrospectively reviewed patients treated with finasteride at our clinic for 6 months or longer. Four dermatologists with expertise in hair disorders evaluated the change in occipital hair thickness using a 5-level scale and measured various hair indices such as the average hair diameter, hair follicle unit density, terminal hair density, and Hair Diameter Index (HDI). HDI = average hair diameter (μm) ×hair density (hairs/cm2) / 100.