Finasteride reduces hair loss in women

Finasteride given in combination with oral contraceptives can help improve female-pattern hair loss in women. Finasteride is an orally administered drug approved for male-patterned baldness. Researchers from the University of Bologna in Italy found that the tolerability of topical Minoxidil, which is currently the main treatment for female-pattern hair loss can be an issue. Whether treatment with agents such as finasteride, which show activity against male hormones, might promote hair growth in women has been unclear. The researching team enrolled 37 women with female-pattern hair loss who were treated with finasteride in combination with an oral contraceptive, because finasteride has been linked to birth defects. After 12 months of therapy, hair growth improvements were rated as great in three patients, moderate in eight and slight in twelve women. Thirteen women had no improvement and one patient experienced a worsening of their female-pattern hair loss. Twelve patients also had a significant improvement in hair density. None of the patients experienced adverse effects with the treatment. However, further studies are necessary to understand which patterns of female-pattern hair loss respond better to this treatment.