The Change of the Frontal Hair Line According to the Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) occurs as a result of progressive miniaturization of scalp hair in genetically predisposed individuals. Several effective treatments for AGA are well known. However, there is a paucity of literature about the influence of such treatments on the frontal hair line (FHL). OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of oral finasteride and/or topical minoxidil on the FHL. METHODS: An assessment of 100 male patients with AGA of grades II to IV was made, based on the Norwood- Hamilton scale after six months of treatment. The patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 received 1 mg of oral finasteride daily. Group 2 exclusively used 5% minoxidil solution 1 ml twice daily. Group 3 received 1 mg of finasteride daily in combination with a topical application of 5% minoxidil solution. We measured the length from the mid-pupillary line to three points of the FHL with calipers; midpoint of the forehead, and right and left temporal recession, respectively. RESULTS: An improvement of the FHL was observed in all of three groups. There was a tendency for patients taking only finasteride to show an overall improvement in the frontal hair line, while patients applying only minoxidil solution showed an improvement in both temporal recession lines. Comparing the three groups at three points of the FHL respectively, at both temporal recession of the FHL, Group 3 showed the best result, followed by Group 2, and finally Group 1. The center of the FHL Group 3 showed the best result, followed by Group 1, and finally Group 2. CONCLUSION: We found that the combination therapy of finasteride and minoxidil had a synergic effect on FHL in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. In the assessment of treatment efficacy to the FHL of patients with AGA, the method of using calipers in this study was worthwhile.