{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,22]],"date-time":"2026-07-22T02:13:12Z","timestamp":1784686392210,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]],"date-time":"2025-06-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751241600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J of Cosmetic Dermatology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Treatment options for male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) range from pharmacologic agents\u2014such as minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride\u2014to newer procedural and experimental therapies.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Aims<\/jats:title><jats:p>We determined the relative effect of the various dosages and administrative routes of minoxidil, finasteride and dutasteride through network meta\u2010analysis (NMA) of relevant outcome measures.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>We conducted a systematic review to identify eligible studies. Our NMAs included studies that investigated monotherapy with minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride of any dosage and route on the following 5 outcomes: 24\u2010 and 48\u2010week changes in total and terminal hair density, and 24\u2010week change in independent observer assessment (IOA). We assessed evidence quality and performed sensitivity and node\u2010splitting analyses of inconsistency. Each NMA produced estimates for pairwise relative effects and surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Our search found 33 eligible studies across which 19 comparators (18 interventions and 1 control) were identified. The active comparators included minoxidil (oral, topical, sublingual), finasteride (oral, topical, mesotherapy) and dutasteride (oral, mesotherapy). The control node amalgamated placebo and vehicle arms.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>We found dutasteride 0.5\u2009mg\/day to be the most effective option. Among FDA\u2010approved treatments, topical minoxidil 5% was the most effective topical monotherapy, while finasteride 1\u2009mg\/day was the most effective oral option. Dutasteride mesotherapy appears significantly less effective than oral administration (0.5\u2009mg\/day).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.70320","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]],"date-time":"2025-06-30T06:29:41Z","timestamp":1751264981000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Comparative Efficacy of Minoxidil and 5\u2010Alpha Reductase Inhibitors Monotherapy for Male Pattern Hair Loss: Network Meta\u2010Analysis Study of Current Empirical Evidence"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"24","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8664-7723","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aditya K.","family":"Gupta","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Mediprobe Research Inc.  London Ontario Canada"},{"name":"Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto  Toronto Ontario Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mary A.","family":"Bamimore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mediprobe Research Inc.  London Ontario Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Greg","family":"Williams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Farjo Hair Institute  London UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0691-640X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mesbah","family":"Talukder","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Pharmacy BRAC University  Dhaka Bangladesh"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_11_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.16362"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09546634.2022.2109567"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamadermatol.2021.5743"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09546634.2021.1945527"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09546634.2021.1959506"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.14895"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7326\/M14-2385"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6947-7-16"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13643-024-02619-9"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13643-016-0384-4"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_12_1","unstructured":"Posit team \u201cRStudio: Integrated Development Environment for R \u201d(2022) http:\/\/www.posit.co\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_11_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2010.09.724"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0190-9622(85)70157-0"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0190-9622(86)70138-2"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000248902"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0190-9622(87)70086-3"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/archderm.1987.01660350083018"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-4362.1988.tb00003.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-4362.1988.tb00006.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-4362.1988.tb00004.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2230.1989.tb00881.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0190-9622(98)70007-6"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0190-9622(99)80052-8"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0190-9622(99)70081-2"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2133.2000.03780.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1067\/mjd.2002.124088"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/archderm.139.9.1219-b"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/0378-6323.45220"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_30_1","first-page":"137","article-title":"Mesotherapy Using Dutasteride\u2010Containing Solution in Male Pattern Hair Loss: A Controlled Pilot Study","volume":"20","author":"Abdallah M.","year":"2009","journal-title":"Journal of the Pan Arab League of Dermatologists"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1346-8138.2009.00673.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2009.09.018"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2013.10.049"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000375320"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_11_35_1","first-page":"1147","article-title":"A Study on the Efficacy of Mesotherapy With Finasteride Versus Oral Finasteride for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia","volume":"5","author":"Talwar A.","year":"2017","journal-title":"Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/0378-6323.188652"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.15171"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/ijdvl.IJDVL_589_18"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.17738"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/ijt.ijt_72_22"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.15953"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_11_42_1","first-page":"384","article-title":"Combining Topical Minoxidil With Procapil; an Assessment of Their Comparative Efficacy in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized Control Trail","volume":"34","author":"Fahim M.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamadermatol.2024.0284"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.20508"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2019.08.084"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_46_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jrsm.1428"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5021\/ad.22.027"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5414\/CP202119"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_49_1","unstructured":"\u201cDrug Safety Update (Gov.UK)\u2014Finasteride: Reminder of the Risk Psychiatric Side Effects and of Sexual Side Effects (Which May Persist After Discontinuation of Treatment) \u201d(2024) https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/drug\u2010safety\u2010update\/finasteride\u2010reminder\u2010of\u2010the\u2010risk\u2010psychiatric\u2010side\u2010effects\u2010and\u2010of\u2010sexual\u2010side\u2010effects\u2010which\u2010may\u2010persist\u2010after\u2010discontinuation\u2010of\u2010treatment."},{"issue":"7","key":"e_1_2_11_50_1","first-page":"742","article-title":"Mesotherapy With Dutasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Study in Real Clinical Practice","volume":"21","author":"Saceda\u2010Corralo D.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Journal of Drugs in Dermatology: JDD"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_51_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/14728214.2024.2346590"}],"container-title":["Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/jocd.70320","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]],"date-time":"2025-08-19T05:30:42Z","timestamp":1755581442000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/jocd.70320"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]]},"references-count":50,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,7]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1111\/jocd.70320"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/jocd.70320","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["1473-2130","1473-2165"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1473-2130","type":"print"},{"value":"1473-2165","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-05-15","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-06-17","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-06-30","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e70320"}}