title: The effect of topical finasteride 0.5% on the outcome of diode laser therapy in the treatment of excess facial hairs in the women with hirsutism.
abstract: To determine the effects of topical finasteride 0.5% on the results of diode laser therapy in the treatment of hirsutism.
  
  
  
  This double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial study was conducted at a private clinic in Babol, Iran, between June 2012 and July 2013, and comprised women with idiopathic hirsutism. A diode laser (810nm) treatment was applied monthly for 6 months with an extra session at the 12th month. The device was adjusted individually according to the skin types using Fitzpatrick classification. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who were given topical finasteride 0.5% and those who were given placebo solution on a daily basis for 5 days before each session.
  
  
  
  Of the 104 participants, there were 52(50%) each in placebo and intervention groups. The mean age was 30.71+9.25 years in the former group and 31.55±7.72 in the latter (p=0.61). The mean hair number before treatment in the intervention group was 49.09±12.41 and in the placebo group was 48.78±15.31 (p=0.9). At the end of the 6-month period, the mean number in treatment and placebo groups were 3.26±1.01 and 5.23±1.73 (p<0.001), respectively. After a one-year follow-up, the mean hair count of 3.73±1.20 and 7.36±2.40 was attained in intervention and placebo groups (p<0.001) respectively.
  
  
  
  Applying finasteride 0.5% solution to the unwanted facial hairs and performing diode laser at the same area resulted in reduction of unwanted hairs.
authors.affiliation: Member of Iranian Medical Laser Association, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Robabeh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alijanpour
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006197:Hair; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D053685:Laser Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D018120:Finasteride
keywords:  Finasteride; Hirsutism; Randomised clinical trial; Diode laser. 