COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ORAL MINOXIDIL AND FINASTERIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA: A SIX-MONTH DOUBLE-BLINDED STUDY

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), or male pattern baldness, has a negative impact on people's quality of life. Although considerable study on the efficacy and safety of oral finasteride and oral minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia has not been conducted, they are both effective treatments. Materials and methodology: In a double-blind comparison trial, 28 participants received daily oral doses of minoxidil (2.5 mg) and finasteride (1 mg) for six months. Numerous factors, including the Norwood Hamilton scale, photographic assessments, trichoscopy measurements of hair count and shaft thickness, Patient Global Assessment (PGA), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS), were considered to determine effectiveness. To monitor safety, lab investigations and the documentation of negative events were used. Results: Both minoxidil and finasteride significantly increased hair growth and thickness. At the frontal and vertex sites, the minoxidil group showed an increase in the average hair count and improved hair shaft thickness. In comparison to minoxidil, the finasteride group demonstrated superior hair growth and greater hair counts. Finasteride had little negative side effects and no reported sexual adverse effects. Conclusion: Over a six-month period, oral finasteride (1 mg) and oral minoxidil (2.5 mg) both showed equivalent efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of AGA. Finasteride produced superior outcomes in terms of hair growth and thickness, whereas minoxidil was well tolerated and had few side effects. People can securely select either course of treatment, guaranteeing a notable improvement in AGA patients' hair growth