Finasteride treatment of female pattern hair loss.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of oral finasteride therapy associated with an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol in premenopausal women with female pattern hair loss.


METHODS
Outpatient consultation for hair disorders at the Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna.


METHODS
Thirty-seven women with female pattern hair loss were treated with oral finasteride, 2.5 mg/d, while taking an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using global photography and the hair density score from videodermoscopy. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess patient evaluation of treatment effectiveness.


RESULTS
At 12-month follow-up, 23 of the 37 patients were rated as improved using global photography (12 were slightly improved, 8 were moderately improved, and 3 were greatly improved). No improvement was recorded in 13 patients. One patient experienced worsening of the condition. There was a statistically significant (P = .002) increase in the hair density score in 12 patients. No adverse reactions to the drug were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Sixty-two percent of the patients demonstrated some improvement of their hair loss with the use of finasteride, 2.5 mg/d, while taking the oral contraceptive. It is unclear whether the success was due to a higher dosage of finasteride (2.5 mg instead of 1 mg) or to its association with the oral contraceptive containing drospirenone, which has an antiandrogenic effect. Further studies are necessary to understand which patterns of female pattern hair loss respond better to this treatment.
Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, I-40138 Bologna, Italy.
Matilde
M
Iorizzo
Colombina
C
Vincenzi
Stylianos
S
Voudouris
Bianca Maria
BM
Piraccini
Antonella
A
Tosti
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017697:Premenopause
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004967:Estrogens; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D018120:Finasteride