Hair growth without the side effects? Topical finasteride shows promise: study

Male pattern baldness can begin as early as puberty, but it is more common after the age of 40. In total, four out of five men will experience some degree of hair loss before the age of 70, according to the Canadian Dermatology Association.However, concerns about the systemic side effects of oral finasteride, the standard treatment for male pattern baldness, have historically hindered adherence to treatment. Among these side effects are sexual dysfunction—impotence, decreased libido, reduced ejaculate volume and ejaculation disorders—as well as breast enlargement, dizziness and muscle-related side effects. In response, a team from the University of Turin’s dermatology department examined the efficacy of topical finasteride 0.25% as an alternative to oral finasteride. Their findings were published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology.The researchers conducted a retrospective observational study, analyzing the medical records of male patients treated with topical finasteride 0.25% between April 2022 and November 2025. A total of 123 adult men with androgenetic alopecia (mean age: 32.4 ± 8.1 years) were included. They were assessed at baseline and after a 52-week follow-up period in a real-world setting.Treatment efficacy was evaluated by trichoscopic changes in total hair count. At 52 weeks, researchers observed a significant increase in total hair density (THD) at the vertex (+21.8 hairs/cm²; p < 0.001) and temples (+29.4 hairs/cm²; p < 0.001). They also observed significant improvements in scalp thickness (ST) and the terminal hair-to-vellus ratio.Overall, they found that 0.25% topical finasteride treatments were well tolerated, with only 7.3% of patients reporting mild, transient local irritation. No systemic adverse effects affecting sexual function or mood were reported. “Topical application of 0.25% finasteride monotherapy demonstrates sustained clinical efficacy and a favorable safety profile after one year of treatment,” the Italian researchers concluded. “These results confirm its potential as a viable therapeutic option for male pattern baldness, particularly in patients reluctant to undergo systemic treatment.”ReferenceGallo G, Mastorino L, Quaglino P, Ribero S. Long-term effectiveness and safety of topical finasteride 0.25% monotherapy in male androgenetic alopecia: a 52-week real-world retrospective study. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. August 3, 2026. This article was initially published on our sister site ProfessionSanté.ca and has been translated from its original French.

Hair growth without the side effects? Topical finasteride shows promise: study

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